RUINS

10. SATED SOULS!!

While Agastya cooked and Advitya kept him entertained, Harika stood rooted to her spot, stunned, looking at them. Her grip on her bag tightened as she tried to process everything.

Agastya sent her away but she saw everything, atleast she saw what she shouldn't have. She was already intimidated with everything. The guards who are all dressed in same uniform. The Gautam mansion which is probably as vast as her whole village. The police Officers already stationed at the home as she walked in. Everything scared her like anything. But she relaxed when Agastya warmly smiled at her.

The comfort he managed to provide vanished as soon as she saw him slapping Advitya. He wasn't gentle and she could see it very clearly. That slap was intended to hurt or atleast that is what she felt. Even before she had the time to process it and normalize it, she saw him thrashing Advitya.. quite mercilessly. And that scared her like anything. Before she could witness more violence, she walked back into her room and paced around fidgeting her fingers, almost at the verge of having a panic attack.  

She gulped down a jug full of water and her brain went on an overdrive like it always did whenever she was scared. She couldn't stay there anymore. She trusted Agastya but she wasn't sure anymore. Too many what ifs were popping in her mind. But she knew one thing. She can't stay there. She wanted to run away but running back to her home seemed like a best and safer option amongst all the other ideas that popped up in her pea sized brain. She picked up her bag and walked out of her room to slip away. When she found the living room calm, she walked down, only to find Agastya and Advitya smiling and peacefully talking to each other. 

Was that all a dream?! But then why would she dream about Agastya and Advitya?! 

She was startled into reality when Advitya noticed her and commented, "Aapka raudra roop dekhke dekho yeh toh bhagne chali.. Hum hi hain jo aapko jhel sakte hain." He joked 

Harika felt caught and she looked away but her expressions gave it away to Agastya. He was simply taken aback by her decision. 

Advitya sobered up as he observed the tension, "Hey aisa kuch nahi hain....Hamare beech chalta rehta hain. 9 mahine ka hisab tha isliye thoda zyada hogaya." He tried to assure her and Harika simply walked back to the room she was given with her bags. 

"Yeh sach mein dar gayi yaa homesick feel kar rahi thi?" Advitya turned to his bhaiyya who shook his head with a straight face. 

"She affects you." He stated calmly, trying not to feel jealous or possessive over his bhaiyya but Agastya saw through the facade clearly.

"She is the only one who managed to make me smile in the last 9 months Adi. Bachi hai. Innocent hai. Impulsive bhi hai. Ek number ki careless hai. Padhayi ke naam se hi door bhaagti hai. Protected hai aur pampered bhi hai. Bhaiyya yeh bhaiyya voh karke peeche peeche ghumti hai. Naaraaz hogayi toh bakwaas baate sochti hai. Kabhi kabhi gusse mein hurt bhi karti hai....." He looked at his brother, "Don't you feel so familiar with her personality?" 

Advitya looked at him startled as realization dawned upon him.

Agastya passed a bittersweet smile, "She used to remind me of Akshat all the time, Adi. She made it easier and hard for me, both at the same time. Bilkul Akki ki Tarah hai. Kaise door rehta usse? Even if I tried..."

Advitya stopped him from giving more explanation, "You couldn't help yourself. I can understand. Aap kyu itna explanation de rahe ho Bhaiyya?" 

Him feeling anything about the relationship they both share is his business to sort out. He is going to respect it at the end of the day. If his Bhaiyya couldn't help himself, Advitya was sure that the girl truly reminded him of their Akshat.