Dhadkan (Book 1 - Singhania Brothers)

Part 8 : Memories

Aniket was working on a file when Aryan came running to his room. Aniket held him just before he could stumble and glared him down.

Aryan pouted. "Ab aap Bhaiya ke jaise mat ghuro."

Aniket hit him on head lightly. "Bhaiya dekhte toh sirf ghur ke nhi chhodte."

Aryan hugged him. His Bhaiyu was right. His Bhaiya would have had his head mercilessly for running around when he had been down with fever for two nights.

"Beemar hai na tu? Jaa rest kar."

Aryan looked up with a scowl. "Kya yaar, Bhaiyu, kitna rest Karu batao? Bhaiya ne subah se bed se niche bhi nhi utarne diya. I'm getting bored, Bhaiyu. Ask Bhaiya to calm down."

Aniket sighed. He understood Aryan's problem but Arnav was right. Aryan did need rest. Aniket was already guilty for giving in Aryan's demand. He didn't want to invite more problem when they already had more than they could handle at a time.

"Bhaiya ko tu janta hai na, Bacha? Hume kuch bhi hota hai toh Bhaiya pareshan ho jate hai. Aur tujh par toh ek kharoch bhi bardasht nhi kar pate woh aur yahan to do raat bukhar me tap raha tha. Puri raat baithe rahe woh tere paas bina khaye piye."

Aryan looked down sadly. He already knew that. His Bhaiya was overprotective when it came to their health. He knew Arnav wouldn't have slept a wink.

Aniket side hugged him. "Tujhe bura feel karwane ke liye nhi keh raha, Aru. Bas isliye keh raha hu ki apna dhyaan rakh. Bhaiya ke samne aise uchchal kud karega toh maar khayega unse."

"Nhi karunga. Sunset point chale, Bhaiyu?" Aryan asked hopefully.

Aniket immediately denied. There was no way he was getting him out of house when he was so sick.

"Please, Bhaiyu, mera bohot mann hai. Kitne din huye wahan gye." Aryan pleaded.

"Raat ko Ashi ke ghar ja rhe hai na, Bacha? She must have made all your favourites." Aniket tried to cheer him up.

Aryan looked down sadly. "Par mujhe sunset point jana hai, Bhaiyu."

Aniket sighed and pulled Aryan closer. He just couldn't see him so sad. "Thik hai, chalte hai. Par sirf thodi der."

"Sachi??" Aryan looked at him with twinkling eyes. Aniket smiled and nodded. "Go get your jacket."

Aryan ran off to his room to get his jacket. Aniket palmed his face. Arnav was going to skin him alive for this. Aryan came back and dragged him down happily. Aniket shook his head fondly. A few scoldings weren't gonna hurt. Anything to keep that smile on Aryan's face!

Arnav was in his study when he heard the sound of something cracking. He rushed out and saw Ayaansh standing in front of a broken flower vase.

"Ayaansh," Arnav pulled Ayaansh away from the broken vase. "Waha kyun khada hai? Chot lagi tujhe?"

Ayaansh looked at Arnav in daze. Arnav checked him over for injuries and sighed when he found none. Arnav raised his hand to touch his face but Ayaansh flinched back. "Galti se ho gya, sorry."

Arnav didn't understand what he was saying for a second. "What?"

"Aage se nhi hoga. Really sorry." Ayaansh had his eyes shut tightly as if trying to block out the view his mind was showing him.

"Kya keh raha hai, Ayu? Tu—"

"Sach me Jaan bujh ke nhi kiya maine. Woh galti se lag gaya."

Arnav's mind raced back to fifteen years back and haunted him with his worst memories before his eyes hardened.