Aniket and Arnav looked at each other once and walked inside Devraj's house. They had come early morning before the court proceedings had to start. Arnav ordered the security to stay behind untill the situation called for.
Devraj was reading his newspaper on his dining table as he shouted for his breakfast. A young boy came with the tray of food and started arranging the plate.
Devraj glared at him. "Kis baat ke paise deta hoon tujhe mai? Nashte ke liye das baar chillana pade mujhe iske?"
"Maaf kijiyega. Aage se nhi hoga." The boy quickly apologized with head hung down.
"Aage se hua toh anjaam bhi achcha nhi hoga." Devraj threatened and the boy nodded gulping down his tears.
Devraj ate a little and started coughing. He looked around for water and got angrier he found the jug empty. He shouted. "Paani kahan hai? Tumhe—"
Devraj gasped as a glass of water was thrown on his face drenching his entire suit. He looked up with blazing eyes to bash the culprit and found Arnav and Aniket standing there.
Arnav pulled a chair and made himself comfortable. "Paani dhoondh rhe the, socha mai madad kar doon."
Devraj stood up angrily. "Tumlog andar kaise aaye? Security—" Devraj turned around only to realise his people were nowhere to be seen.
"Koi hume disturb nhi karega, Mittal. Chaho toh baith jao. Apna hi ghar samjho," Aniket too sat beside Arnav and gave a smug smile. "kuch der ke liye hi sahi."
Devraj's eyebrows twitched. "Kyun aaye ho yahan? Court aane se pehle hi darr gye?"
"Apne naye ghar ka tour karne aaya hai, Mittal." Aniket said coolly as he started removing some files.
"Kya?" Devraj asked in confusion.
Arnav took the files that Aniket passed him and threw it towards Devraj. "Vacate the house in an hour, Mittal."
Devraj caught the file and threw it away in anger. "Mere Ghar me ghus ke mujhe mera hi ghar Khali karne ko keh rahe ho?"
Arnav shook his head and smiled. "Yeh tumhara ghar tha. Aaj se yeh ghar mera hai."
"Kya badtameezi hai yeh? Kya hai yeh sab?" Devraj banged his hands on the table furiously.
Aniket almost wanted to strangle his neck but he knew Arnav wouldn't approve of that. Yet. So he gave a sugar coated smile to enrage Devraj more. He very well knew how these people's mind worked. "Itni jaldi kya hai, Mittal. Abhi toh sirf baatein kar rhe hai hum. Badtameezi pe aana baaki hai."
"Tujhe toh—" Devraj stopped as his phone and the other landlines in house started ringing at once.
"Pick it up, Mittal." Arnav said in a commanding voice. His voice was calm. Extremely calm. But not the kind of calm that soothed you, it was as calm as that of cold dead black sea that could scare the very soul within you.
Devraj felt the panic shoot up his spine. Against his mind's control his hands obeyed Arnav and picked up the phone. Whatever was said from the other side made his blood cold. He looked at Arnav dumbfounded. Who was this person sitting in front of him?
Aniket took a deep breath when he saw the look. He knew they had won the first battle. He took out some more files and handed to Arnav within a word.
Arnav slid the files across table towards Debraj who was still shocked with how fast the tables had turned. "You'll like to have a look at these, Mittal."
Devraj grabbed the files. His face started draining its colour as he flipped through the pages. All his illegal dealings, drugs scandals, child labour and every other wrong business of his was pasted in front of him with proofs and evidences. Devraj felt his world spinning. He would be behind bars for life if this went out.
Arnav stoop up and buttoned up his coat. "If you wish to come to court still, you might want to be prepared for this, Mittal."
Devraj fisted his hands and looked up furiously. "Tumhari itni aukaat ki tum mujhe dhamki doge? Bhool gye ho kya ho tum? Malik ke saamne naukar apni—"
Before he could continue, his face was jerked to another side with blood drooling out of his lips as Aniket threw a punch at him.
"How dare you? Phir se bol?" Aniket didn't even give him a chance to register the warning before throwing another punch at him. Devraj stumbled back with the force. Aniket hit him once again. And one more time.
"Ani, ruk.." Arnav came ahead to stop him but Aniket was far gone in his fury to listen to Arnav.
Devraj struggled to speak with his bleeding lips as Aniket pulled him by his collar and spoke menacingly. "You should've known whom you're messing with, Mittal. Arnav Singhania! He has hundreds of people like you running on his fingertips. Jis insaan se unchi aawaz me baat kar rhe ho uske saamne ache ache log nazre tak unchi nhi karte."
"Bas, Aniket, chhod use," Arnav tried to pull Aniket. Devraj saw the opportunity and pushed Aniket towards Arnav and let out a breath. Aniket had been choking him.
Arnav held Aniket immediately. "Theek hai tu?"
"Chhodo, Bhaiya, ise toh mai.." Aniket freed himself and was about to hit Devraj again but Arnav stopped him. Aniket had already hurt himself while hitting Devraj. Arnav didn't want that person's filthy blood anywhere near his brother's body. He hardened his voice. "You'll stop right there, Aniket."
Aniket wanted to ignore the command but his body refused to cooperate. They had been sort of hardwired to listen to that voice of Arnav. With or without will.
Devraj regained his balance and glared at them. "Yeh tumne thik nhi Kiya, ladke. Tumhe bhugatna—"
Arnav turned to Devraj with icy cold eyes which could make anyone shiver even in the scorching summer. "Ek call aur tumhara sab kuch tumhe apni aankhon ke saamne barbaad hota dikhega, Mittal. Learn to cut down your losses and pull back from the case."
Devraj spit the blood from his mouth. "Jis ladke ke liye yeh sab kar rhe ho na Arnav usi ladke ki maa ne tumhe bech diya tha. Yaad dilaoon?"
Arnav closed his eyes. That was one bitter truth of his life. He had been traded off by his own mother! No amount of healing could erase out that kind of pain.
"Uss maa ne tumhe bech diya aur uss bachche ke apne paas rakha. Nafrat karni chahiye tumhe usse aur tum ho ki uske liye yeh sab kar rhe ho? Manhoos hai woh—"
"You're talking about my brother!" Arnav's voice was too low for a warning and yet it sent shivers down Devraj's spine. "I'll not give you a chance to repent from next time. Remember who you're talking about. Arnav Singhania doesn't stand a word about his family!"
Devraj took a step back involuntarily. He wasn't prepared for this person. He had been expecting to meet the person he had abused for years but this was a person who spoke like he was the king of the reign. He didn't know Arnav really was!
"Bohot time waste kar chuka hoon mai, ummeed hai court ka time waste nhi hoga. Pick up the damn phone, Mittal, and do the needful." Arnav said and walked out with Aniket without looking back.
Devraj stared at the retreating figure. He would remember the name. Arnav Singhania. For a long time.
Arnav glared at Aniket as he did the dressing on his hand which was bleeding due to hitting Devraj.
Aniket looked away. He was not leaving his stand. He would have done worse if Arnav hadn't stopped him.
Arnav sighed. He knew Aniket wouldn't put his foot down. His brothers couldn't take a word against him. "Khud ko hi chot lagi na, Ani? Aise logon se..."
Aniket's eyes blazed. "I don't care a damn, Bhaiya. How dare he talk to you like that? Agar aap nhi rokte toh—"
Arnav hugged him to calm him down. Aniket's eyes softened the moment he felt Arnav's heartbeat.
He hugged Arnav back and held on untill he felt better.
Arnav pulled back gently. "Aise logo ka kaam hai bakwas karna, Ani. We can't go on hitting everyone, can we?"
"Agar usne wahi baat mere liye kahi hoti toh? Mujhe apna nauk—"
"Aniket!" Arnav's voice took a sharp edge.
Aniket flinched but stood his ground. Arnav realised what his brother was trying to do and sighed. He couldn't scold Aniket for something he himself would have done in his place.
He looked at Aniket. No matter how hard his brother tried, he could never keep his emotions hidden from him. It was like having a binding force between them that Arnav could feel his brother's thoughts and emotions everytime. He could see the old scars being scratched all over again. Their past wasn't all glitters and butterflies but that was where they drew strength from. They embraced their past and moved ahead but it had come back with vengeance.
"He cannot hurt me, Ani." Arnav said gently. "He cannot hurt us. Not untill we let him to!"
Anike swallowed harshly and nodded. He understood what Arnav was saying. He looked at his brother. "Sorry nhi kahunga mai. Yeh bhi nahi kahunga ki next time nhi hoga."
Arnav smiled. They were fine. They would always be!
Aryan barged inside Ayaansh's room. He was annoyed for all the non existent reasons. "Mujhe bahar Jana hai, Bhai."
Ayaansh looked up from the table he was sitting on. He had been reading a book. He raised his eyebrows at his little brother who sat beside him with his puffed cheeks. "Aren't you grounded, Aru?"
Aryan smiled. His Bhai had taken to call him Aru and he saw it as the first step of acceptance. "Toh kya hua? Bhaiya Hitler ban rhe hai. Unki engagement hai next week aur hum shopping bhi na jaye? How's it fair?"
Ayaansh sighed. Aryan was right. His Bhaiya was really being a sadist here. It was his engagement next week and he had left for office early morning with his Bhaiyu.
Not for a second it crossed Ayaansh's mind that he was referring to Arnav as his Bhaiya. Something he hadn't done before!
"Sun rhe ho aap?" Aryan shook him not so gently.
Ayaansh glared at him. "Mujhe kyu raha hai? Mai kya karu?"
Aryan's face scrunched up. "Mujhe nhi pata. Kuch bhi Karo. I just wanna do something and I don't know what."
Ayaansh felt like palming his face. He had no experience dealing with a cranky younger sibling.
"Aap sun kyu nhi rhe, Bhai?" Aryan accused as the irritating tears rushed to his eyes.
Ayaansh was shocked to see the tears. He hugged Aryan. "Arre to mat please. Mai sun raha hoon na. Bol kya karna hai tujhe?"
Aryan shook his head. "Abhi toh kaha maine, nhi pata mujhe."
Ayaansh felt helpless. He thought desperately but couldn't come up with anything but then suddenly hit his mind. "Kuch khayega? Kuch banaye milke?"
Aryan looked up and nodded. That sounded like a good idea.
Ayaansh sighed in relief. He had asked what he would have preferred to be asked when feeling cranky for no reason. It turned out to be a lucky guess.
The brothers walked down to kitchen. Ayaansh started taking out noodles to boil. Aryan was surprised that Ayaansh knew where things were kept.
"Aapko kaise pata kya cheez Kahan hai? Mujhe bhi nhi pata tha soya sauce Kahan rakha hai." Aryan couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice.
Ayaansh shook his head and hit Aryan's head lightly. "Soya sauce fridge me hi hoga na, idiot."
Aryan bit his tongue and smiled sheepishly. "Arre haan."
"Aapko cooking kaise aati hai?" Aryan asked again.
Ayaansh's smile dimmed.
His life had forced him to grow up very early. Since the moment he had come to know about being an unwanted child, unwanted burden on his own parents, he completely stepped away from their lives. He took care of himself on his own.
Aryan noticed the change of expression and tugged at Ayaansh's hands. "Sorry, maine toh bas aise hi puch liya."
Ayaansh smiled for Aryan's sake and shrugged it away. "Cooking is a survival skill, Aru. I didn't like the food they made so I learnt to cook for myself. Jab apne liye sikhna ho toh sab sukh jate hai."
Aryan's eyes misted. He shook his head slightly. "Kabhi kabhi doosro ke liye bhi sikhte hai, Bhai."
"Kya matlab?"
"Bhaiya learnt cooking for me. Mai toh bohot Chhota tha, mujhe yaad bhi nhi. Bhaiyu ne mujhe bataya." Aryan smiled softly blinking away his tears.
"Bhaiyu ne bataya tha kaise Bhaiya ka har roz haath jal jata tha phir bhi woh humare liye khana banate the. Mujhe aur Bhaiyu ko unke haatho ka khana sirf isliye nhi chahiye hota kyuki woh tasty hota hai. Hume Bhaiya ke hatho ka khana isliye pasand hai kyuki usme Bhaiya ka pyaar hota hai. Every bite fills us with the love he has for us." Aryan looked at Ayaansh with understanding eyes. "Cooking is a survival skill par usse bhi jyada cooking is an expression of love, Bhai."
Ayaansh's own eyes misted listening to Aryan. He had never felt so much love behind a small action ever before. This house was showing him a new way of looking at things. Relationships never existed in Ayaansh's life but that didn't make him value those any less. It only increased the amount of significance of every relationship in Ayaansh's heart. May be it was the time he actually started valuing the ones he had in the moment.
Aniket came in to get water for himself when he looked at the boy's standing silently, lost in their own worlds. He frowned and snapped his fingers. Both the boys were started.
"Kahan khoye huye ho dono?"
"Bhaiyu," Aryan ran to drag him to the counter. "dekho Bhai mere liye noodles bana rhe hai."
Aniket raised his eyebrows at Ayaansh. "Is this edible?"
Ayaansh glared at him, offended. "Khake dekho, Bhaiyu. Dobara mangoge aap."
Aniket smiled. Ayaansh was blending in much smoother way than he had expected. "Toh der kis baat ki? Chalo khate hai."
The brothers served themselves with generous amount and sat down to eat. Aryan was the first one to comment. "Kya noodles bane hai, Bhai. Aap toh sachi cook kar sakte ho."
Aniket joined in. "Haan yaar, Ayu, tujhe toh sachi khana banana aata hai. These are really good."
Ayaansh looked at them incredulously. "Aap dono kehna kya chahte ho? Mai jhoot bol rha tha?"
Aniket and Aryan looked at each other discreetly.
"Ab kise bata Bhai.."
"Kahin tu jala hua khila deta Hume toh..."
Ayaansh huffed. "You guys are being mean."
Aniket and Aryan bursted out laughing and high fived each other. Ayaansh just glared at them who were having fun at his expense. They ate together and then Aniket left for his work while the boys got back to their usual stuffs.
"Kya hua?"
Aniket asked worriedly as he entered the house at two in the night and saw the boys pacing in the hall.
Aryan ran to hug him. He was close to burst into tears. Aniket hugged him back and looked at Ayaansh whose face was also covered in worry.
Aniket pulled back Aryan and cupped his face. "kya ho gya, Bacha?"
"Bhaiya ab tak ghar nhi aaye, Bhaiyu."
"Kya?" Aniket tensed. Arnav was supposed to come back from office early that day. He composed himself for the boys. "Bhaiya kaam me fas gye honge, bacha. Pareshan kyun ho rha hai?"
Aryan shook his head as the tears rolled down his cheeks. Aniket pulled him to his chest.
"The security said Bhaiya left the office in evening." Ayaansh spoke as Aryan was unable to.
Aniket was getting scared. "Bhaiya ko call kiya?"
Ayaansh nodded. "Call lag nhi rha, Bhaiyu. Unreachable bata rha hai. Aapko bhi try Kiya humne par aapka phone bhi unreachable tha phir security told us you're still in the court. Par Bhaiya ki security team se contact nhi ho rha."
The hairs on Aniket's back stood up. Arnav was never irresponsible about security. He made sure they knew where he was. And even they didn't know where Arnav made sure to let them know that he was safe. His mind was racing in all wrong directions.
He turned back his attention to Aryan who was crying inconsolably. "Bas kar, bacha. Bhaiya jaha bhi hai bilkul thik hai." He pulled back and copped Aryan's face. "I'll go and look for Bhaiya. You guys stay home, okay?"
Aryan held his hands and stopped him. "Nhi, Bhaiyu, bahar weather bohot kharab hai."
"Haan, Bhaiyu, it's dangerous to be out in this weather." Ayaansh also held his hands to stop him.
Aniket shook his head. "Bhaiya bhi bahar hai na, bacha. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Aniket turned to go out when a security member rushed in. Aniket's heart dropped a bit. "Kya hua?"
"Arnav sir ki security team se message Mila hai, sir. They will be reaching here in half an hour. Arnav sir ne kaha hai everything's fine and he had asked you all to not step out of home."
Aniket closed his eyes in relief. He had been scared to death. The boys hugged him from either sides taking comfort as they waited for their brother with a pounding heart inside their chests. Arnav was the only one who could provide them actual comfort now.
____________________________________
Write a comment ...