Epiphany

A Sprained Ankle

In the morning when Aakrith wakes up, he finds himself sleeping on the bed. A faint smile spreads on his face as he guesses Kabir must have shifted him on the bed, in the early morning.

Rolling over, he lies on his back and stares at the ceiling. He is having second thoughts about coming here. After Kabir saved him, he was scared and his defenses were down so he didn't want to leave Kabir.

However he wasn't prepared for meeting Mitansh and Vatsal so soon. Yesterday night, he hardly held himself back from crying. How long will he be able to continue? And the most important part, How will he be able to go back to the agency after spending time with his brothers?

He groans loudly and presses his face into the pillows. "Ugh, I don't wanna go back!"

"Go back where?" Mitansh asks, leaning on the door, making Aakrith startle a bit.

"Go back to...sleep." Aakrith replies in uncertainty.

Mitansh chuckles and walks into the room. "Why not? It's your day off. You can practically sleep the whole day."

Aakrith gets up on the bed with Mitansh's help. He gives him a grateful look and says. "There's no day off for agents. If we take a day off, then who will save the people?"

Mitansh is amazed by the words of the young boy. He sounds so much similar to Kabir. No wonder the kid is in his bhaiya's team. Both of them are equal when it comes to saving the people of the country.

"Aren't you scared?" Mitansh can't help but ask. The boy is still young to think about the lives of other people rather than himself.

"Nope! Fear makes you weak and weakness is never an option for us." Aakrith says with confidence. He sounds so mature for his age.

Mitansh tries to find any signs of fear in the boy's eyes, but he couldn't. This is the same boy who was asking for orange juice at the party.

"You know, before I came in the room," Mitansh says with a serious face. "I heard bhaiya is gonna punish you for swearing yesterday."

After hearing this, all the confidence from Aakrith's face is gone. Now he looks more like a kid who is scared of being punished by his parents.

Lying back on the bed again, Aakrith covers himself with the blanket. "Please tell him I'm still feeling dizzy and I plan on staying in bed all day." He says while hiding underneath.

Mitansh bursts into a roar of laughter watching the boy's antics. "So, you are not scared of missions but you are scared of your commander." He says, while laughing.

Aakrith removes the blanket from his face, his hair getting more messy as he glares at his brother. "You are a meanie, Mr. Mafia."

Mitansh laughs and pulls Aakrith's cheeks. "And you are so adorable, Banana Pants."

Rubbing his cheeks, Aakrith pouts. He can't believe he fell for it. "Whatever, I'm gonna go get freshen up."

In an instant Mitansh comes to his side as Aakrith comes out of the bed. He holds him when Aakrith stands on his feet.

Aakrith looks at Mitansh and says. "I-I can walk..."

Mitansh interrupts and cuts him off in between. "I know you can walk. But you are still recovering so let's not take any chances, alright?"

No, it's not alright. Aakrith wants to protest. He doesn't want Mitansh bhai to show his care. It will just add a bonus to his inner desire of not leaving his home and staying here.

"You want me to stay here in the room while you shower?" Mitansh asks, genuinely. It will be easier to help the boy, just in case he needs any help.

"No!" Aakrith blurts out instantly. "I, I will be ok. You don't have to stay here."