Qurbat, Near You

9- Whips And Handcuffs

The start of the chapter is very chaotic and I apologize for that. I don't know what I was thinking before writing the "chaotic" part (YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU WILL READ IT, BUT APOLOGIES BEFOREHAND)

If you like the chapter, please vote and comment your views! And thank you for all the love on the last chapter. 

Nikhil was just eleven years old when Kabir adopted him. A timid child who barely spoke to Kabir. As a child, Nikhil was scared of adult Kabir, not because he was harsh or scary, but because he had heard stories of endless adoptions going wrong. Even as a child, Nikhil knew what adoption was. From a very young age, he knew how people abused others. His countless friends were adopted and then abused or abandoned them. 

The majority of the parents adopted kids when they failed to conceive. Adoption was always treated as a last resort. And even when infants had higher chances of getting adoption. Rich people adopted kids to polish their images. And when he got to know a rich man was keen on adopting him, Nikhil couldn't help the fear that began to stir inside him. 

But he wasn't scared of Manthan as much as he was scared of his guardian. The fact that Manthan was also an orphan like him comforted him. He began roaming behind Manthan, holding the hem of his shirt everywhere he went. He used Manthan as his shield. 

It took a few days for Kabir to break down the walls. And once the walls were broken, an endless ocean of love started filling the cracks inside his heart. Kabir just needed one small crack to let his love penetrate inside his heart. And the moment Nikhil felt it, he couldn't pull himself back. He was so deprived of love that when Kabir started pouring his love, Nikhil couldn't help but embrace it with open arms. 

It was the first time Kabir realized how gentleness reaches the darkest corners of our hearts. Though Manthan taught Kabir how to raise a child, how to understand a child, and how to be a father, it was Nikhil who taught him how to be patient, how to be gentle. With Nikhil, Kabir learned the art of never lashing out at a kid. 

Kabir was his father, his anchor, his endless supplier of love and warmth. But Manthan— Manthan was the first liberation he found from his fear. When he feared Kabir too, he went to Manthan. If Kabir was his sword, Manthan was his shield. 

When Manthan entered Kabir's room to wake up Nikhil, he found the boy was already up. Though he was still under the blanket, his eyes were wide open. The smile that formed on his face when he saw his oldest brother walking in, made Manthan smile too. He couldn't help it, Nikhil's smile was so contagious. 

"Slept well?" He asked the young boy, walking towards him. 

"I wish I could sleep more." Nikhil whined, resting his head on Manthan's lap as he closed his eyes. Manthan rolled his eyes but found himself gently running his fingers through the unruly locks of the young boy. 

"You always want to eat and sleep more. Chal ab uth jaa, and freshen up. Lunch is ready." He said, making Nikhil look at him with twinkling eyes. 

"Kya kya banaya hai Baba ne?" Nikhil asked, licking his lips, and Manthan raised his eyebrows at the curiosity and excitement in his brother's voice. 

"What makes you think Baba cooked today? And even if he did, raaj bhog nahi banaya hai. Simple dal rice hai." Manthan replied, lying without batting an eyelash. But Nikhil wasn't easy to fool. Not when it came to their father. 

"Oh, I know, Raaj Bhog hi banaya hoga Baba ne. It's impossible for him to not cook our favorites after scolding us. Bhaiya, duniya yaha ki vaha ho sakti hai, ek baar ke liye Manthan Raheja romantic ho sakta hai, ek baar ke liye Hari bhai apne khatarnak ideas rok sakte hai, Adhir bhai aapko Mughal-e-azam bulana chod sakte hai, but Baba humare liye humari pasand ka khana banana nahi chod sakte. Especially after a scolding session. Uh—huh."