Chapter 8

Aniket was working on a file when Aryan came running to his room. Aniket held him just before he could stumble and glared him down.

Aryan pouted. "Ab aap Bhaiya ke jaise mat ghuro."

Aniket hit him on head lightly. "Bhaiya dekhte toh sirf ghur ke nhi chhodte."

Aryan hugged him. His Bhaiyu was right. His Bhaiya would have had his head mercilessly for running around when he had been down with fever for two nights.

"Beemar hai na tu? Jaa rest kar."

Aryan looked up with a scowl. "Kya yaar, Bhaiyu, kitna rest Karu batao? Bhaiya ne subah se bed se niche bhi nhi utarne diya. I'm getting bored, Bhaiyu. Ask Bhaiya to calm down."

Aniket sighed. He understood Aryan's problem but Arnav was right. Aryan did need rest. Aniket was already guilty for giving in Aryan's demand. He didn't want to invite more problem when they already had more than they could handle at a time.

"Bhaiya ko tu janta hai na, Bacha? Hume kuch bhi hota hai toh Bhaiya pareshan ho jate hai. Aur tujh par toh ek kharoch bhi bardasht nhi kar pate woh aur yahan to do raat bukhar me tap raha tha. Puri raat baithe rahe woh tere paas bina khaye piye."

Aryan looked down sadly. He already knew that. His Bhaiya was overprotective when it came to their health. He knew Arnav wouldn't have slept a wink.

Aniket side hugged him. "Tujhe bura feel karwane ke liye nhi keh raha, Aru. Bas isliye keh raha hu ki apna dhyaan rakh. Bhaiya ke samne aise uchchal kud karega toh maar khayega unse."

"Nhi karunga. Sunset point chale, Bhaiyu?" Aryan asked hopefully.

Aniket immediately denied. There was no way he was getting him out of house when he was so sick.

"Please, Bhaiyu, mera bohot mann hai. Kitne din huye wahan gye." Aryan pleaded.

"Raat ko Ashi ke ghar ja rhe hai na, Bacha? She must have made all your favourites." Aniket tried to cheer him up.

Aryan looked down sadly. "Par mujhe sunset point jana hai, Bhaiyu."

Aniket sighed and pulled Aryan closer. He just couldn't see him so sad. "Thik hai, chalte hai. Par sirf thodi der."

"Sachi??" Aryan looked at him with twinkling eyes. Aniket smiled and nodded. "Go get your jacket."

Aryan ran off to his room to get his jacket. Aniket palmed his face. Arnav was going to skin him alive for this. Aryan came back and dragged him down happily. Aniket shook his head fondly. A few scoldings weren't gonna hurt. Anything to keep that smile on Aryan's face!

Arnav was in his study when he heard the sound of something cracking. He rushed out and saw Ayaansh standing in front of a broken flower vase.

"Ayaansh," Arnav pulled Ayaansh away from the broken vase. "Waha kyun khada hai? Chot lagi tujhe?"

Ayaansh looked at Arnav in daze. Arnav checked him over for injuries and sighed when he found none. Arnav raised his hand to touch his face but Ayaansh flinched back. "Galti se ho gya, sorry."

Arnav didn't understand what he was saying for a second. "What?"

"Aage se nhi hoga. Really sorry." Ayaansh had his eyes shut tightly as if trying to block out the view his mind was showing him.

"Kya keh raha hai, Ayu? Tu—"

"Sach me Jaan bujh ke nhi kiya maine. Woh galti se lag gaya."

Arnav's mind raced back to fifteen years back and haunted him with his worst memories before his eyes hardened.

He gave Ayaansh a good shake and spoke firmly. "Look at me, Ayaansh!"

Ayaansh still didn't open his eyes.

"Look at me, Ayaansh."

Ayaansh slowly opened his eyes but looked down as soon as his gaze met with Arnav's.

Arnav's eyes softened. He made Ayaansh look up gently. "Teri koi galti nhi hai, bacha. You don't need to be sorry, hm?"

Ayaansh looked away.

"How dare you break it? Don't you know the importance of food and money?"

Ten year old Ayaansh flinched as tears rolled down his face.

"I'm sorry, baba. Khana garam tha isliye galti se plate gir gaya."

"Galti se? Ek kaam nhi hota tumse thik se? Kisi kaam ka nhi hai tu!"

The person slapped him hard and walked away. Ayaansh kept muttering apologies untill he slept on it.

Arnav caressed his face. His sadness was getting to him. "Jaa, Aryan ke paas baitha ja. He must be bored."

"Par woh toh Bhaiyu ke saath bahar gya hai."

Arnav's eyes widened. "What?"

Arnav had said that to divert the topic but Ayaansh's reply made him furious. Aryan was so sick and Aniket had taken him out? His brothers would be death of him.

He called the security immediately. He sighed in relief when the security informed him about them trailing behind Aniket's car. Arnav knew where they must have gone. There was only one place.

Arnav got worried about Aryan. The boy was already so sick and now he was out in the cold at a cliff. He couldn't even be mad because he knew that was the only comfort place for his brothers. Moreover he trusted Aniket to take care of their boy.

The similar cracking sound diverted Arnav's attention to Aryan who was trying to clean the broken pieces from floor.

Arnav pulled him up. "Kya kar rha hai, chot lag jayegi."

"Mai toh bas—" Ayaansh trailed off as Arnav stared at him.

Arnav sighed. "Bahar chalega?"

Ayaansh looked up with interest. He was also bored staying at home all the time. He really wanted to go out.

Arnav smiled. "Go wear something warm. Chalte hai."

Ayaansh happily nodded and ran off to his room. Arnav was already waiting in his car when Ayaansh came back. He sat in the car and Arnav started driving.

"Hum Kahan ja rhe hai?"

"Jahan tere dono bhai gye hai. Dekhu toh aisa kya zaroori kaam tha dono ko." Arnav said casually.

Ayaansh frowned. Arnav looked calm but he could hear the anger in his voice.

Arnav drove off to their usual spot. The sunset point! Arnav asked Ayaansh to get down and looked at the watch. They were just in time. Sunset was about to happen.

Just as Ayaansh and Arnav took a few steps they found Aniket and Aryan sitting on a rock laughing over something.

"Aap bhi na, Bhaiyu, kitna darte ho Bhaiya se?"

Aniket shook his head. Only if the boy knew how much burnt he took for him to save him from their Bhaiya's wrath. "Chal be, Mai kisi se nhi darta."

"I'm getting a fair idea of that, Aniket."

Aryan and Aniket's eyes widened in short hearing the voice.

Aniket turned around and gave Arnav an unapologetic smile. "Weather kitna acha hai na, Bhaiya aur Aru ka—"

Arnav glared him down untill Aniket looked down and muttered a 'sorry'.

Ayaansh bit back his smile. That didn't look like the lawyer Aniket Singhania people talked of.

Aryan dared to take a glance at Arnav. He looked down immediately as he met Arnav's eyes. He knew he was doomed.

"Care to explain, Aryan?"

Aryan looked up innocently. "Explain what, Bhaiya?"

Arnav caught hold of his ear and twisted it. "Kaha tha na tujhe don't come out of your room. Aur yahan tu sidha sunset point pe baitha hai?"

"Ouch, chhodo na, Bhaiya." Aryan whined on purpose. "Apne beemar bache pe gussa kar rhe ho aap?"

Ayaansh laughed out hearing him.

The brothers looked at each other and then at Ayaansh. It was the first time they were seeing him laughing so heartily. Arnav's heart filled up with an unknown protectiveness. He realised he could do anything to protect that laugh of his little brother.

Aryan hugged Ayaansh. He was glad his Bhai was happy.

Ayaansh stopped laughing and hit him on the head lightly. "Bimar hai toh rest kar?"

Aryan gave him a wide smile. Ayaansh was behaving just like he should. Like his brother!

"Mai kar lunga rest. Pehle aap mere saath aao. I'll show you our favourite spot. Wahan se best sunset dikhta hai." Aryan said started dragging him.

Aryan looked back at Arnav and Arnav nodded with a slight smile. The scolding was long forgotten as Aryan continued to show Ayaansh the sunset and tell stories about them. Arnav let the boys enjoy to their heart's content.

"Dono kitne khush hai na, Bhaiya?" Aniket asked smilingly.

Arnav stared at him.

"Kya yaar aap, sirf mujhe aankhein dikhao—" He huffed as Arnav continued to glare him. "Sorry. Aapko batata toh aap pareshan ho jate."

Arnav shook his head. "Aise pareshan nhi hua?"

"Itne Hitler mat bano, Bhaiya. Dekho kitna enjoy kar rhe hai woh log. Chill." Aniket said coolly.

Arnav sighed and put an arm around Aniket. "Tu thik hai, Ani?" Arnav knew Aniket came there whenever he was upset.

Aniket shook his head. He was not fine. He was really troubled since the moment Devraj Mittal had walked in their life unannounced. This place held innumerable memories of theirs. It somehow helped sooth him.

"Mai jaanta hoon tu kyu pareshan hai, Ani. I promise that man will not be able to harm—"

"You don't need to tell me that, Bhaiya." Aniket cut him off gently. "Aap thik ho?"

Arnav nodded his head. He had to be! He couldn't fall weak when his family needed him to stand strong.

"Hume Ayaansh se baat karni hogi, Bhaiya. He will have to give his statement. He can't say he doesn't want the house."

Arnav tensed. It was going to be difficult to make Ayaansh understand the situation.

"He'll be fine, Bhaiya" Aniket assured him. "I'll take care of things in the court. We just need Ayaansh to give his statement. The house is the only property he inherited from his father. We need to work in that."

Arnav nodded. He'll have to talk to Ayaansh soon!

Aniket leaned in to Arnav's touch. "Hum bhi bilkul aise hi the na, Bhaiya?"

Arnav looked in the direction where Aniket was looking. Aryan and Ayaansh were sitting on the cliff admiring the sunset.

"Hum humesha aise hi rahenge, Ani."

Aniket smiled.

Arnav called the boys back as it was getting colder and drove back home.

As soon as they entered home Aryan tried escaping to his room but Arnav caught him back.

"We're not yet done, Aryan."

Aryan made a face and then hugged Arnav by his midriff. "I was bored, Bhaiya. Dekho Bhaiyu made me wear jacket and muffler. Mujhe bilkul thand nhi lagi."

Arnav shook his head. "You're grounded for a week, Aryan!"

Aryan cribbed but buried himself deeper in Arnav's midriff. He already knew his Bhaiya won't let him go without consequences. That didn't mean he hated it any less. "Aap mujhse bilkul pyaar nhi karte, Bhaiya."

Arnav ruffled his hair. "Kya chahiye?"

Aryan gave him a charming smile. "pav bhaji?"

Arnav nodded. He could give him that.

When the boys came down for dinner, Aniket and Ayaansh were totally unsurprised to see the table full of different dishes and desserts unlike Ayaansh. They knew Arnav did that whenever any of them was upset or sick. It was his his attempt at cheering them up. And it worked every single time! Ayaansh just stared at the lavish meal in confusion. Was it someone's birthday or any festival?

Aryan looked at the dessert and ran into kitchen to hug Arnav. "Aapko kaise pata mera kheer khane ka mann ho rha tha?"

Arnav smiled. "Tera humesha hi meetha khaane ka mann hota hai."

Aryan didn't care about the sarcasm and dragged Arnav to have dinner.

They brothers started serving themselves their favourites and Aryan quickly pushed his plate towards Arnav who obliged and started feeding him.

Aniket looked at the another bowl of dessert and smiled. Bread ka sheera! He usually didn't prefer sweets unlike Aryan but he loved that one sheera. It was his Bhaiya's special and he absolutely devoured the heavenly taste.

Ayaansh served himself the noodles. He looked at Arnav who was feeding Aryan while listening to ever little thing Aryan was telling him. He blinked his eyes as the memories resurfaced.

"Baba, mai first aaya class me! Aur teacher ne bhi—"

The person jerked off the child. "Tujhe dikh nhi rha mai thaka hua hoon? In baaton ka time nhi hai mere paas."

"Meri pair me chot lag gyi, Maa. Dawai laga do aap."

"Abhi toh kitchen se aayi hoon. Jaa khud laga le. Chhoti si chot se ro mat."

"Ayaansh!"

"Ayaansh!"

Ayaansh came out of his thoughts as Arnav and Aniket called out to him. He saw them looking at him and composed himself. "Haan?"

"Tu thik hai?"

Ayaansh nodded.

Arnav was unsure but thought better not to push it. "Tujhe meetha pasand hai?" He asked.

"Kya?"

"Mujhe pata nhi tha tujhe meethe me kya pasand hai. Kheer ya sheera lega?"

Ayaansh still didn't comprehend what Arnav was saying.

Aryan nudged Ayaansh. "Bhaiya ne kuch pucha, Bhai."

Ayaansh looked back at Arnav in daze.

Arnav smiled to make him comfortable. He could see something was troubling him. "Bata de tujhe kya pasand hai. Next time bana doonga."

Ayaansh couldn't speak.

"Mujhe yeh pasand nhi hai. Mai kuch aur kha loon?"

"Ghar me kya daily teri pasand puch ke khana banega? Learn to eat everything."

Arnav and Aniket looked at each other. Aniket reached out to hold Ayaansh's hands. The boy looked lost. "Kya hua?"

Ayaansh shook his head. "Kuch nhi, Bhaiyu."

Aniket's heart filled up with love every time Ayaansh called him Bhaiyu.

Aryan turned Ayaansh towards him and Arnav. "Arre Bhaiya tabhi se kuch bol rhe hai aur aap apne hi khayalo me ho. Batao na aapko kya pasand hai meethe me?"

Ayaansh shrugged his shoulders. "Kuch bhi. We should eat everything."

Arnav felt a pang when he heard Ayaansh. The boy should be having a long list of preference at that age. Even Aniket had more demands than him. He needed to know about Ayaansh's childhood. What did he go through to develop such maturity at that age?

"Kya aap bhi. Acha chhodo, abhi aap woh kha lo jo Bhaiya ne banaya hai." Aryan picked up the bowl of Kheer to serve Ayaansh.

Aniket saw Ayaansh smiling a little and stopped Aryan. "Kheer kyu? Bhaiya ne sheera bhi toh banaya hai."

Aryan glared him cutely. "Haan par kheer jyada achi hoti hai. Bhai wahi khayenge."

"Woh tu Ayaansh ki hi decide karne de. Dekhna woh Sheera hi khaayega. Sheera is the best. Hai na, Ayaansh?"

Ayaansh looked at them troubled. He didn't want to offend any of them. "Mai kuch bhi kha loonga. Aap log—"

Aryan bursted out laughing looking at the horrified expression of his Bhai. Aniket chuckled. "kuch der toh chup reh jata idiot."

"Aap shakal dekho unki. Aise hi hasi aa gyi mujhe." Aryan laughed.

Ayaansh sighed. So they were joking. He was in dilemma for a moment. Arnav served a little of both kheer and sheera in a plate and pushed it towards Ayaansh.

"Dono taste kar le."

"Haan dono taste Karo aur bata do Bhaiyu ko ki kheer is the best." Aryan chirped in.

"Tu phir bola!" Aniket fake glared at him.

The brothers continued to bicker. Arnav was grateful that Ayaansh no longer looked upset. He wanted to know about Ayaansh's past but he had to wait for the boy to trust him enough. He couldn't intrude in his life. And Arnav was ready to wait. He could give Ayaansh time as much as he needed. Arnav had no idea what Ayaansh needed was not time but love!