Bonds

10-FUTILE EFFORTS?

Akshaj Pov

"Sir, nil and twins are here in cells, torturing those fuckers we caught this morning."

Listening to this, I expeditiously open the live footage of the secret CCTV we have in our dungeons on my laptop that no one except us-Ethi, Adik, and I-has known, and I also call up Ethi in my room. Not Adik, because he has Viti in his room.

"What?" I look up at him. He is shirtless, has gray trousers on, and has disheveled hair. Was he sleeping? Of course, it is 1 a.m. and he had laxed rest last night as well, adding to his exhaustion.

"Here, watch this." As soon as he realizes what is happening, his jaws clench, the frown on his forehead deepens, and his palms turn into fists. My own reaction is no different. They are not allowed for a reason. ALONE. Without my protection. We want to protect them from the dirt we live in, but they are hell-bent on pulling themselves into this. What do we do?

I am thoroughly watching how Ojas blackmailed the guards. It was impressive, to say the least, yet so unfair. Those bodyguards were offered this duty because they were intelligent enough to know their vicinity. Here we are. My 14-year-old gamesome brother fooled him. Perfect. They need lessons. And as Ojas accurately stated, their jobs are in danger either way.

And they took their phones as well. The younger ones need a reminder why we are the best mafia. We have 50 guards guarding those cells discreetly. And the entire dungeon has about 186 guards.

We keenly and silently watch each step taken by them. I am actually proud of their vindictiveness.

I discern their endeavors. Nil is consistent. And Ojas is not himself. I was oblivious to this side of him. His execution is not identical. I am unassertive nonetheless, and I observe how he resembles Ethi. Not ditto. Obviously. I wonder what I should take it as. Should I be proud? Elated? Thrilled? Sad? Grateful? Or pathetic? Our brothers are becoming like us.

I glance at Ethi's face, and it is as dissatisfied as it could get. I understand him. He was against me joining him in the illegal world, but I did to support him. The same goes with Adik. He would loathe himself if these three younger ones even had a thought regarding the same.

It creeps the hell out of me when Nil collects their blood in a bottle. So creepy. How dark they have gone in a single night for their princess. Akul's frightened posture would not go amiss here. I know what he needs. I am not worried; Ojas will be there for him.

"I am amazed and impressed by them." I say this to lighten up his mood.

"Does not justify the fact they could not adhere to the only rule they had." The twins call him correct. Obstinate.

"Agreeable. Just can you be a little lenient?" Already knowing his answer.

"No." This grumpy person did not take a moment before replying. Younger ones, you're gone.

"Ojas behaved like you." Since forever, I have known Ojas' special liking for Ethi, and he does everything to be like him. Evidently, I am not exactly as gobsmacked.

"And he should not have." Here we go again with the same response he gives all the time: Ojas copies him.

"I know why you are reacting like this, but sorry to burst the bubble of illusion of yours, bhai; you can't keep them away from this for too long." How can we? We can prevent them from malice from others; how will we slip asylum to them from us?

"Of course I can."

"No, you can't. Hypothetically speaking, we accept you did, and even though they were officially not a part of this, they would still inherit some traits of one. Besides, what they did was right. Viti is their sister too."