FAMILY BEFORE ANYTHING - 3

CHAPTER - 8 LESSON 101 ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF CARELESSNESS!!

Arav walked into the kitchen, only to find Akshara sitting on the platform, with a huge Fruit bowl in her hands. The frown and cute pout she had, told him that she is forced to eat the extra fruits. But why? is the question that lingered. He made his way to his Bhaiyya who dedicated himself to cooking. He peeked into dish and made a face when he saw some vegetable curry. 

"Chicken nahi hai aaj?" He asked. His unhealthy obsession with chicken is getting overboard but he couldn't help himself. Maybe some day he will get it under control and he isn't waiting for the day anyways. 

"Nahi hai." Abhimanyu answered monotonously, not in a mood to speak. 

Arav decided not to disturb the man on mission and turned to his Bhabhi. He raised his eyebrows and Akshara gave a begrudging look to the fruit bowl before looking back at him. He smiled and decided to help her out. The insane amount of fruit in that bowl almost made him throw up. He picked up another fork, and was about to prick it in a piece of fruit, when he felt a whack on the back of his head. 

He turned around shocked and his bhaiyya snatched away the fork from him. 

"Go get another bowl for yourself." Abhimanyu ordered before he turned away, putting the fork back in it's place.

Arav, scared to even whine, looked back at his Bhabhi, who had sorry written all over her face and was looking at his bhaiyya with some kind of longing in her eyes. He scooted closer to her and whispered "Kuch hua hai kya?" 

Akshara looked at him, a pout forming on her face without her knowledge. She couldn't help but remember how her husband schooled her with a single look. 

Before Arav walked into the Kitchen.......

Akshara followed her husband into the kitchen, like a lost puppy. She tried to gain his attention but he ignored her royally. So royally. Like she didn't even exist. She finally had enough and held his wrist, that was cutting Watermelon. 

"Abhi..." She softly whispered. And continued when she didn't get any reaction "Abhi, I am sorry." Her heart almost leapt in joy when her husband turned to her, hoping against hope that he would talk to her and end this silent treatment, but he simply gave her a look, A look which was enough for her to loosen her hold on his wrist. A look that made her step back. He looked furious and the rage in his eyes couldn't be mistaken. He is livid. And rightly so, her brain whispered, making her feel sorry for herself. 

"Abhi, aap chillalo. But please not this silent treatment. I.." She is cut off with a thud sound of the bowl. She looked at her husband, who went on with his work. But she didn't need his "that" look this time to understand what he wanted. She silently hopped onto the counter, careful enough to not slip away and give her husband one more reason to not talk to her. 

And that is how Arav found her.

---

Arav slightly nudged his Bhabhi when he didn't get any response and asked again "Kya hua Bhabhi? Bhaiyya itne gusse mein kyu hai?" 

Akshara looked away. She didn't even want to imagine how unbearable Arav could become when he'll know about her shenanigans. None of them would let her live in peace. Her husband alone is enough for her. The man could control her with just a single look. She didn't need mini versions of him doing the same with her.

Her eyes sparkled when Abhimanyu turned but it was short-lived as he spoke to Arav. "Go set the table." He ordered and walked out with his phone to call his sister and brother, who seem to have forgotten how to come home early. Just as he was about to call his sister, Anya walked into the house, very tired. She seemed to have lost some weight, which he just noticed. Just like that, Abhimanyu is annoyed and angry all over again. How hard is it for one to take meals and rest on time? It must be super hard because none in his family does that, except him.