Surrounding Stories (Collection)

Reality of Blood

Happy Sweet Sixteen to my lovely HifzaAwan. This is my gift to you : *. Khud tou cake kha liya, mera kahan hai?(You ate your cake, where is mine?)

___________

Six hours had passed and the door was still locked in place the way mom had closed it. The only sound in the narrow hallway was of grandfather's clock striking 3 am. There was still no sign of him. I raised my head, carefully observing the door if there were any signs of tampering. No.

I stood up, my pace slow. I might have fallen asleep with my head on the table this whole time. He did have the keys but I was a light sleeper and the jingle of the keys was too much for me not to hear. Thus he hadn't come. I just didn't understand what he found in that world. What made him lie like that?

Now, it was impossible to bring him round to my views. He was already fed up with me being the perfect son. Our parents were always boasting about how great a son I am and I knew it was starting to drive him crazy. He was supposed to make me his role model but no, he had his good-for-nothing friends to be in that place.

My blood started to boil as I recalled his arguments with my parents. I felt my temperature rise when I recounted the way he had misbehaved with mama the previous morning. I started walking angrily, my fists clenched when I felt disgusted upon the sight of tornadoes of him promising dad to stop his ways blinded me. How could he be such a cheater?

My eyes snapped to the door as I heard that jingle I had promised mama I would wait for, it breaking the haunting silence of that hallway. I sped for the door as he turned the door knob, stepping inside. As soon as my little brother came in sight, I lost it.

Grabbing his shoulders, I whisper-shouted, "How could you do this to him? You betrayed father! You went against him! After all they did for you, didn't you have any shame?"

He looked away, annoyed. "Stop Overreacting."

"Overreacting? I am overreacting! Have you seen the time? It's over 3 am!"

"So what? Get out of my way; I am in no mood to talk to your lousy face. Besides I have business to attend to which is quite better than you," saying that, he shoved past me, inside.

My mouth hung open as I stared at his disappearing form, appalled. I was shaken, terribly shaken. He had no shame, no regret. He was normal. He was stupid. He was ruining everything for himself yet he didn't know. He didn't know his eyes were playing games with him. Those he thought as friends now were the real enemies and his real helpers, sincere lovers? He thought they were even dangerous than the devil itself.

~~~~~~~~~

"I just don't understand him. What does he want to prove by this?" I asked, frustrated.

Misty put a hand on my shoulder. "Don't stress yourself, Caiden. He has his own views. Just let him be."

"Let him be, Misty, let him be! Are you even listening to yourself? Jake is my little brother, my baby brother. How can I just let him be?"

She sighed, "He has grown."

I shook my head, "Wrong. If he had, he wouldn't be doing what he is."

"Look, you should give him some space."

"Space!" I snorted, "How can I give him space? He is getting out of hand. We must control him rather than giving him space."

"No Caiden that is where you are wrong. You don't have control him, you have to unleash him."

I stared at her, somewhat irritated and confused. Has she lost it?

Sensing my confusion, she continued, "You must let him free. Let him do what he wants. He is growing; soon he will be an adult. If you start controlling him, he'll get tired of you people and the moment he turns 18, he'll leave you all. Forever. So it is necessary to just unleash him. Let him do as he wishes, he will eventually understand."