Lost | ✓

Chapter 21. NGO

🎶 Tum Mile - Refresh Version (it's my new obsession)

Published on 01.07.2022

| AUTHOR'S POV |

Rahul bursts into Ayansh's room without any warning, taking him by surprise.

"I've news for you." He says enthusiastically but his brother's face remains impassive.

Rahul frowns. "What happened? You don't look happy."

"What's the news?" Ayansh asks in a small voice, ignoring his concerns.

"You told me about your start-up plan, remember? I've found some people who would like to associate with you and help you out in your plan." He waggles his eyebrows in mirth.

Ayansh looks sceptically. It's so unlike his elder brother to actually lookout for him. So, the information takes a good amount of time to be registered by his brain. Rahul snaps his fingers in front of him.

"You're... serious?"

Rahul gives him a bored look. "Duh? Of course. Anyways, I've given them your contact number and they'll reach out to you and then, you can carry on further."

There's surprise that Ayansh feels but there's gratitude which overpowers that feeling, making a lump get formed in his throat. "Than- thank you." His voice cracks and Rahul chuckles.

"No problem." He dismisses him with a wave of his hand and leaves the room.

Everyone wants to be a priority in someone's life, especially when you prioritise people over yourself again and again. And this is something Ayansh has hardly ever experienced. Family prioritises family but not in his case. He was never the most important for his parents nor his brother. His grandparents were there who loved him unconditionally but they left him years back. Ever since he told his brother that he's going to teach Inaaya how to ride a bike, there's been a difference in his behaviour. The glimpses of hostility had disappeared completely. Rahul would smile at him, talk with him every now and then. The conversation would always have a mention of Inaaya which usually puts Ayansh off because everything seems fake. It's like a give and take relationship, robbing him of experiencing something genuine, making him feel as if he's missing out on something that others get without even asking or craving for it.

And Inaaya has been his ray of hope, she has been like the sun whose presence is unavoidable and when the world turns cold, you turn towards it to bask it's warmth, wanting to get consumed by it completely. She has been his flicker of happiness, raw and selfless, his glimmer of smile, contagious and engulfing. Every moment spent with her felt real, so real that after a point he forgot that it all started with a lie said by him. And yet when time came, she didn't hesitate to choose family over him. A harsh realisation burnt him that she'll choose her family, her brother even in the smallest of matters. Then why can't he do the same? Why was he so hesitant and almost against to what his brother asked him to do, especially when now he sees there's a possibility? Yes, it was wrong but if that helps him get the approval, the acknowledgement, the love he has been deprived of, then shouldn't he do it? Why care about others feelings when didn't care about yours? Choose your brother, do what he wants you to because he's family and people choose family even if it's wrong, even if it's a little messed up and you love them no matter what.

Today, when Rahul came to talk to him, give him a news, it was the first time where he didn't bring up Inaaya or ask about their equation. It felt real. Maybe he was warming up to his younger brother finally. Maybe everything he did wasn't based on some sort of terms and conditions. And that overwhelmed Ayansh. It truly did. He has been devoid for things he deserved for so long that the smallest of them manage to overwhelm him.