Arvind halted. He glanced at his wife and sakshi. He then looked at manik. The realisation drawn on him. Pink shade crept on his cheek. He looked away in embarrassment.
Manik noticed the change. He said, "Kya hua dada? Ap ruk kyu gaye? Kitna maza araha tha, aur khel the hn na."
Arvind face turned red. He looked at him and cleared his throat. He spoke, trying to sound stern, "Nahi, it's enough for today."
Manik pout, "Par mujhe aur khelna hn, kitna maza araha tha. Please na. Bas thori der aur." Manik pleaded. Before arvind could make any comment, arjun voice filled the area.
"Bahr ajao, mannu," Everyone turned to arjun, who stood at the doorway. Manik pouted and shook his head. Arjun sighed and moved towards him. He crouch down and forwards his arm, "Bahr ajaa, beta. I promise baad mein I will play with you."
Manik asked, "Promise?" Arjun nod, "Hn bacha promise. Now come out." Manik reached for his hand, and arjun grasped it gently. Pulling him out.
He guided manik inside. Simran glanced at her husband, who was still looking at the direction in which the brothers went. She cleared her throat and said, "Ap bhi bahr ajayein kisi aur din khel lijyea ga." Arvind faced turned more red hearing her. He glared at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him. She left from their with sakshi.
Arvind sighed, "Aj toh bohut bezati hogaye. Enough embarrassment for the day." He got out of the pool and went inside.
Coming inside the room, arjun gently nudges manik towards the bathroom, "Ja naha le. Mein kapre nikal leta hun." Manik nodded and left.
Arjun walked towards his walk-in closet and fetched out a black trouser and white shirt. He laid it out on the bed. He knocks on the door, "Mannu, kapre bed par rakh diye hn. Phen lena."
Arjun left from there. When he returned, he saw manik dressed in the clothes which he had fetched for him. Keeping the cup aside arjun, grab the towel from the stand. He made manik sat, who instinctively wrapped his arm around Arjun's waist, snuggling onto his stomach. Arjun, with quiet care, dried his son's damp hair, ruffling it gently like the wind through leaves.
Manik, while snuggling, said, "Dadu ache hn, baba." Arjun halted. His hands stopped in mid-air before continuing to dry manik hair. Arjun hummed in response. Manik looked at him, "Ap kuch bol kyu nahi rahe? Apko pata hn he played with me. Mujhe bohut maza aaya."
Arjun again hummed. Manik pouted and tugged the hem of Arjun's kurta. He complained, "Ap kuch bol kyu nahi rahe? Ap mujhe ignore kar rahe hoh? Ap mujhse naraz hoh? Bolo naa."
Arjun sighed. He gently ruffled manik's hair and spoke softly, "Nahi... mein naraz nahi hun, bacha."
Manik, give a look, "Phir ap jawab kyu nahi de rahe?" Arjun spoke absent mindly, "Kya jawab dun?"
Manik said, "Kuch bhi dedou." Arjun still in daze, didn't realise, "Kuch samjh nahi araha."
Manik looked at him irritatedly, "Ap jaan puch ke kr rahe hon na. Jao mujhe nahi baat karne apse. Apse ache toh dadu hn. Jaa raha hun mein unke pass." Manik stormed out of the room.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
