Something, Nothing

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23 — WHERE IS MY BROTHER?

I am not entirely convinced it is my father who spoke to me the day before and so I go to the workshop to help them out. But still I can't help but look over at him every few minutes.

I only truly believe him when he voluntarily calls me over to him when Aarnav was standing right there doing nothing. Even Aarnav is surprised by that, but when I turn to my eldest brother, Aaryan he just shakes his head with this little knowing smile on his face.

So my father is not mad at me anymore or disappointed.

That should make me happy but instead that only stresses me out. I can live with the fact that my father is upset because I chose to study in a different college than his choice. But I'm not sure if I can handle it with the same intensity if (when?) my father is upset with who I actually am.

I keep thinking I have time. I will cross that bridge when the time comes. And that time is still far away.

But ever since I moved away from home, I have been having this dreadful feeling that that time is nigh. I'm running out of time. One thing I consoled myself with was that my father was not actually talking to me but that unfortunately resolved on its own and now... Now I don't know what I'm going to do. I just have to hope and do my best to keep putting off that time.

↢∞↣

Shiv comes by the workshop two days later without any announcement, looking very much troubled.

"What?"

"Hmm," he looks up, startled, even though he just sat on the stool.

"You okay?" he gives me one quick nod and does a quick check around him, and then in a very low voice he asks, "Where's your brother?"

"Aarnav's with appa over there," I gesture at them, "Aaryan's at home. Not feeling well,"

He nods, and taps his fingers in quick succession on his knees, and keeps looking at me and away, worrying at his lips.

"Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"

"I wish I saw a ghost instead," he mumbles but I can hear him perfectly.

I stop my work, my curiosity piqued against my interest and sit before him, "What is more terrifying than that?"

"I..." he knocks the bottom of his jaw with his fist, and then sighing, "I don't know if I should tell you this,"

I squint my eyes at him. He's never not told me stuff before — so this is definitely a first.

"Tell me what,"

He hesitates and against my better judgement, I start playing the guessing game.

"Is this about you?"

He shakes his head.

"About me?"

He grimaces and raises his shoulder a little, "Sorta,"

I have to know what this is about then.

"Good thing or bad thing,"

"I don't know, man. I don't know,"

"Okay, then just tell me wh-,"

"I saw your brother,"

Frowning, I point towards Aarnav, "Him?"

"Aaryan,"

"Okay?"

He glances around and scoots his stool towards me a little, "Yesterday. I saw him yesterday night,"