INNOCENT ELDER KID

13

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Today, Manik's excitement was uncontainable. His favorite younger cousins and his only elder brother were visiting after six long months. It was their semester vacation—a time for fun, laughter, and endless memories.

"Someone’s looking too excited today," Miran teased, his tone laced with his usual grumpiness.

Miran often found their cousins to be the most annoying  and irritating creatures on the planet. It is going to be a jealous trip for all of them now, especially for the twins. Their cousins always manage to ruin his mood whenever they visit. They, in particular, seem to enjoy getting on his nerves. For him, their visits meant jealousy-filled days, especially since Manik always gave them undivided attention. Obviously, Manik will give more attention to the Cousins, as they are coming once every six months, even if it's just once. This time was no different, and Miran was already bracing himself for what he considered an unbearable stay.

Manik, on the other hand, was glowing with excitement. "What kind of question is that, Miru? Of course, I’m excited! They’re all coming today. I missed them so much! It feels like it’s been forever. I have so many plans—movie night, games, stories... Oh, Do they now become very big teenagers, whatever they are? They are forever my babies, and I wonder if they’ve grown taller—"

Before Manik could finish, Atharv swooped in and lifted him off the ground, spinning him around. Manik’s laughter echoed through the mansion, realizing Atharv’s playful move was an attempt to stop his cousin-filled chatter.

“Alright, alright, enough of that,” Miran interrupted, arms crossed. "Bhaiya, it's enough now the servants will take care of the remaining work and bhaiya you should eat your meal and medicine or else I will not allow for any movie night for you. Go eat your meal and take your medicine, or I’m canceling movie night for you. No exceptions."

Manik pouted, realizing Miran was serious, and hurried off to his room before the lecture could continue.

---

By evening, the mansion was buzzing with excitement. Loud voices and cheerful chatter filled the air as the big voices and shouting little brats of Manik stormed in the mansion, accompanied by the elders.

"Manik bhaiya, where are you?" Ishaan, youngest son of omkara and the dangerous shooter and the group’s self-proclaimed troublemaker, shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice carried a mix of excitement and mischief.

Indeed they become kids and behave normal  like their age, only in the present so presence of their manik bhaiya. 

Anika,  stepped in with a gentle smile. "Calm down, Ishaan. Your Manik bhaiya is resting. He’s been bouncing around the house all day, and I don’t want him falling sick before spending time with you all. Let him sleep for a while. Before he walk up you are all go and get ready, Once he’s up, we’ll have dinner together—he even cooked your favorite dishes."

The younger ones sighed in disappointment but didn’t argue. Instead, they gathered around Anika for a hug.

"Ani Ma, can we at least peek at him while he’s sleeping? We won’t disturb him, promise!" Kaira, the only girl in the group and Om’s elder heir, the wonderful hacker, and resident tech genius, pleaded with wide, innocent eyes.

Anika hesitated but eventually gave in, warning them not to wake him. They tiptoed into Manik’s room like little kids on a secret mission.

"He’s so soft, like a baby," Kaira whispered with starry eyes, reaching out to pinch Manik’s cheeks. Before she could, Miran swatted her hand away, rolling his eyes.