Love Me

25

The dining table felt heavy with silence. Daksh and Deepak sat on one side, while Roshni and Ayaan faced them. Daksh’s fingers tapped against the polished wood steady, sharp, and unnerving.

"Roshni, why don't you go upstairs? You received an assignment today, didn’t you? Go do it," Deepak said coldly, clearly out of his character.

The sudden iciness in his voice made her flinch. She lowered her eyes to her plate, avoiding both brothers gazes.

Ayaan's knees bounced under the table. His eyes darted toward Roshni, his eyes silently pleading. "Don’t leave me. Not now." He said in his mind knowing his brother a little too much.

"I have one week to do it. I’ll finish it later," she murmured, her voice soft but shaky. It wasn't like she was unknown with Daksh's anger and leaving Ayaan alone with him will be like mother leaving her child to father mercy when the child has made some mischief.

Daksh leaned back folding his hand on his chest, his gaze unreadable. "Deepak, why don’t you take her out for some time? A park, anywhere she wants to go."

Deepak nodded. "Let's go, Roshni. I brought my bike. We'll take a ride to the park." He jingled his keys.

"Daksh, leave it, na—" she began, but his glare cut her words in half. Her throat tightened.

"Roshni," his voice was calm yet commanding, "we'll talk tonight. For now, let me speak to Ayaan. I don't remember when I gave my little brother permission to sleep with a prostitute."

She glanced at Ayaan, whose legs were still trembling. Her chest tightened, but she stood and walked out with Deepak.

Daksh exhaled sharply once they left.

"She acts like i will kill him." he thought, shaking his head.

His eyes pinned on his younger brother who was looking down in guilt. "Ayaan. Look at me." Daksh ordered.

Ayaan hesitated, then lifted his head, meeting his brother's piercing gaze.

"I'm sorry. I'll never go to places like that again," Ayaan said quickly, words tumbling over each other.

"Where did you go?" Daksh asked, his voice low but firm.

Ayaan’s eyes fell to his lap, lips pressed tight. They both knew where exactly he went but still saying it again feels like a sin.

"I asked you something," Daksh's voice rose.

"Brothel," Ayaan whispered, his eyes shutting as if bracing for the impact that was about to come.

"Don't you think you’re sitting too far? Come here." Daksh gestured to the chair beside him.

With slow steps, Ayaan obeyed. Daksh rose, facing him making Ayaan stand too. "Now repeat it. Where did you go?"

"Brothel." The word left his lips again, and before he could prepare, Daksh's palm struck across his cheek. The force made him stumble.

"I permitted you to go to a club. Even so, you went a step further," Daksh thundered, his slaps raining down one after another. "If you were upset, you should have come home. Spent time with us. You would've forgotten your sorrow. But no you went to a brothel, and spent a night with a girl. Very respectful of you, Ayaan!" His each sentence followed by slap.

"Bhai, stop…" Ayaan’s voice cracked. He holds his hand tightly in back to hold his Daksh's hand even by mistake.

"Why should I? Do I have to teach you respect for women? Do I have to keep an eye on you whenever you're with Roshni?" Daksh’s words cut sharper than his hands.