Rishton Ki Dor

9. Apologies and Doubts

The next day, Ayaan told Maan everything.

"Tu paagal hai kya?" Maan said, "Koi aisa karta hai? Bhai ka laptop tod diya? Woh to Mihir bhai the isliye thoda sa daat ke bhaga diya, warna koi aur Hota na to do thappad lagata wahi."

Ayaan glared at his best friend. "Maine tujhe sab isliye nahi Bolta taaki tu bhi mujhe daate."

Maan-"Nahi to kya, tareef karu teri? Sach mai, Mihir bhai ne tujhe zyada hi choot de rakhi hai."

Ayaan-"Ab bas bhi kar, itna bhi mat suna mujhe. Uff, pata nahi kyu Maine tujhe apna dost bana rakha hai. Jab dekho mujhe daat ta rehta hai."

Maan-"Kyuki aur koi aapki bewakoofiyaan sehan nahi karega, isliye."

Ayaan glared at him, sulking.

Maan, shaking his head-"Zyada muh mat bana. Bhai ko bhi sorry bolde bas, konsa wo tujhse naraaz reh sakte hai."

Ayaan, agitated-"Aaj subah hi jaane wala tha sorry bolne ke liye yaar, lekin bhaiya to mere uthne se pehle hi office Nikal gaye!"

Maan-"To kya hua, shaam mai bolde." He looked at his best friend. "Koi aur baat hai kya, Ayaan? Itna kyu upset hai tu? Pehle to tune isse bhi bade kaand kiye hai, lekin itna kabhi nahi sochta tha."

Ayaan did not answer. What could he say, when he himself was not sure about the problem? For some reason, Rashmi's words from yesterday kept revolving in his head. He had dismissed her words then, but now they refused to leave him alone. He did not like the questions they raised, the doubts they put into his mind.

Maan sighed. "Jo bhi hai, bhai se baat karle... Jab tak tu baat nahi karega, tujhe sukoon nahi hoga. Okay?"

Ayaan nodded, even though in truth, he had no idea how to even put his doubts into words! What could he possibly say to Mihir?

*

"Aur Kar ghado ki tarah kaam," Ahil said, sitting down in the chair opposite Mihir.

Mihir glared at him. Sometimes, Ahil's ability to read him like a book was really annoying.

Mihir-"Main theek hoo."

Ahil-"Dikh raha hai, kitna theek hai. I'm sure tera Kal ka Sar dard bhi abhi nahi gaya hoga. Haina?"

Mihir chose not to answer.

Ahil shook his head at him. "Seriously, Mihir, tu aaj kal kuch zyada hi kaam kar raha hai. Aur aaj bhi lunch nahi kiya. I know it's a tense situation for the company right now, but you can't do this. Take care of yourself. Aaj ghar jaldi chala jaa, okay?"

Mihir sighed and nodded. He knew Ahil was right. 

Ahil-"Aur mujhe pata hai tera man bhi nahi lagega...I'm sure tera poora dhyaan Ayaan pe hi hai abhi."

Again, Ahil was right. Mihir wanted to talk to his brother. Regardless of how small or big his argument might be with Ayaan, Mihir was always restless if there was anything unresolved between them at all.

Mihir sighed. "I shouldn't have yelled at him, yaar...work ka frustration maine uspe nikaal diya."

Ahil-"It's okay, Mihir. It's not that big of a deal. Ayaan baccha thodi na hai...he'll understand."

Mihir shook his head-"That's the thing, Ahil. He is still a child with me. He is very sensitive...abhi bhi har choti cheez ko bohot seriously le leta hai...he doesn't let go...that's the thing."