The Bond Of Trust

1. Hollow

Soniya walked in the room after a crisp knock.

The door was unlocked as always. She looked at the sleeping figure on the large bed. Shaking her head in amusement, she walked over to the windows and opened them to let the fresh air flow in the room. The curtains softly waved in the gentle breeze, bringing in the wafting scent of the flowers and freshly watered grass. She once glanced at the room.  It was neatly arranged as always, not a single thing out of place and without a single spec of dust. Smiling, she'd walked to the bed and sat beside him. She was aware that he is awake, as always, and was waiting for her to coax him into getting up.

She lovingly stroked her fingers in his thick hair. He opened his sleepy eyes, and sighed. She smiled, raising her eyebrows.

"You want to sleep more?" she whispered.

He blinked.

"I wish I could. I am sure Bhai is waiting for me downstairs. I should get going."

She laughed.

"No. Vihaan already left. But yes, Kabir Bhai called sometime ago asking for you. But he too told that you can take an off today."

Veer smiled sitting up. It was a very rare thing to get an off from Kabir, that too on a Monday morning.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Just a bit tired." he simply replied.

She nodded in understanding. Before she could reply, small feet came running towards the bed and a body threw itself over Veer. Veer caught him laughing loudly. Soniya reprimanded her younger son Inder, for the stunt he pulled. But the boy, as always, ignored his mother, pushing himself into his Chachu's embrace. Enveloping the two year boy in his embrace, Veer dropped himself back on the bed, covering both of them with warm comforter. It was a cue for Soniya to show her self out. Veer looked at her with puppy eyes and she left shaking her head, a smile playing on her lips.

It was an early afternoon, when both of them came down after a fresh shower. The boy usually had his morning routine with Veer and refused to get anything done by his mother. The only exception was Vihaan. 8 yrs old Ishaan would get jealous of his little brother and would demand Veer's attention. Veer then, would happily comply to his demands and ended up taking both the boys for a ride in his car and buy them a scoop of ice-cream each, much to Soniya's annoyance.

That day, after the breakfast, Inder demanded to visit his friend Abhimanyu, who stayed at a distance of twenty minutes drive, at the Chitra Residence. Veer would have happily complied, owing to the fact that he would be able to see his dearest Sunaina Bhabhi. But the reality was, Ishaan, sometimes, did not approve of Inder and Abhimanyu's friendship. He, being elder, would feel left out. But much to their parents delight, Inder and Abhimanyu were rather inseparable, just like Vihaan and Kabir themselves.
He then coaxed the boy to visit the temple and buy him his favourite cookies.

Veer would sometimes relate himself with Ishaan, when he was younger and was an easy target for his elder brothers for their pranks. But they  always made sure to include him and respect his boundaries. He smiled at the bond he shared with them.

The entire day, he spent playing games with the two boys, teaching them the techniques in Chess and then playing basketball, where he had to lift the boys one by one, so that they could pass the ball through the basket.

It was in the evening, when Ishaan came running in the back garden, where little Inder was sleeping on his chachu's chest. Both of them were in a deep slumber. Ishaan thought for a moment and looked at his Chachu's face. Veer looked peaceful. But his little brother was an incarnation of sleeping devil.

Ishaan was rather impatient and wanted to go out. He shook Veer's arm. Out of instinct, Veer protectively tightened his arms around Inder, opening his eyes. He relaxed as he noticed the little boy jumping on his feet. Smiling, he pulled him closer and  whispered in his ears to get ready. He asked him to wear his best outfit as he needed to look just as handsome as his Chachu. The boy went inside hopping like a kangaroo.

Veer smiled and looked back at the baby sleeping in his embrace. Lightly stroking his hair, he kissed his head and collecting him like a bundle, he walked inside the house.

He walked to his brother's bedroom and knocked. The door clicked open after a few moments, revealing a heavily breathing Vihaan. His lips were swollen. Veer blinked and his ears turned red in embarrassment. Clearing his throat, he handed the sleeping baby to Vihaan without a word and jogged back to his room.

When Ishaan came looking for him, he was settled in an arm chair. He was touched by the scene he just witnessed. This was the only thing missing in his life. He too needed a partner to love and cherish.
Giving Ishaan a few cookies, he went to the bathroom to freshen up. Ishaan was silently chewing on the cookies when Veer was busy getting ready. He settled on a light blue checkered soft cotton shirt and dark Blue Jeans. Folding the sleeves to his elbow, he opened the drawer where his branded watches were neatly arranged. Looking through the options, he picked up a silver watch with black dial. He received that watch from Kabir, when he had blackmailed the latter. Sunaina was not aware that Kabir had forgotten little Abhimanyu, settled in one of the trolley, in the supermarket, when he was looking for the ingredients to bake her favorite ginger bread. The baby was happily nibbling on the lollipop, when Kabir came rushing back to look for him. He was safe with the security of the supermarket, but he was for the first time, reprimanded by the older lady in the staff. To say that it was humiliation, would be an understatement.

That evening, after coming back from the temple, Veer was silently sitting on the swing in the back garden.
He was all alone.

Though he was surrounded by the lovely family, there was a certain hollow in his life.
How he wished someone to hold his hand while he gently sways on the swing..
How he wished someone to wrap herself around him when comes back from office..
How he wished to kiss someone's forehead as he opens his eyes in the morning...

He had always imagined that beautiful touch, but there was an empty place, for someone to be filled permanently.