Bound by Law

Bound by Law || 44- Torn in Two

"Jai? What happened?" Sanaya asked, concern taking over her features and seeping into her tone. Jai turned and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes glazed over.

Mohit worriedly glanced at me and I hesitantly stepped forward.

"Jai, what did Carol say?"

"Gran's...dead?"

The whisper came out as a question, as if he didn't believe the thought. My breath got caught in my throat and my eyes widened.

What? Gran died?

"Jai, w–"

His eyes shot up, jaw clenched and his fists trembling beside his body.

"Gran died of a heart attack this morning."

Sanaya gasped and covered her mouth in shock, and I stood there, frozen.

No...Gran can't be dead! She was so healthy when we saw her last.

He shook his head before his eyes travelled to Sanaya and Mohit.

"Look, guys, I'm sorry, but I need some time alone. Can we–"

"No, that's completely fine. We'll come back another time," Mohit cut in, nodding his head sympathetically.

He ushered Khushi over to him, who looked up at Jai in confusion.

"Joi...are you okay?"

He forced a smile for her. "Yeah, course I am, monkey."

"You don't look okay," she mumbled, "you usually swing me around before I go, too."

With fake enthusiasm, he chuckled.

"Well, you asked for it," he said, and picked her up, tickling her in the process. Even though he was smiling, I could tell it wasn't genuine and that he was only putting up an act.

The strain in the corner of his lips as he stretched a smile made that very obvious.

Khushi just giggled in a carefree manner once she was put down on the floor and pecked him on the cheek.

"Everything will get better, Joi! Don't be sad," she declared, holding up her Elsa doll. "Elsa will make you happy again."

This time the laugh that escaped his mouth was genuine, and he held out his hand to ruffle her messy hair that had come out of the bun.

"I'm sure she will, Khushi," he said.

Khushi beamed at him before running over to me and hugging me tightly. She whispered a small goodbye before running back over to Sanaya who looked like she was about to cry.

She hurriedly rushed over and hugged Jai, softly sobbing on his shoulder causing my heart to ache. After we parted ways and the door shut, Jai leaned against it, his hand made into a fist against the door.

"Jai," I whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. His body was stiff, but as soon as my hand made contact with it, the muscles in his body began to relax. "I'm–"

He abruptly turned and pulled me into a hug, his head on my shoulder. His hold tightened around me, and I could feel his chest jerking as he tried to hold in the sobs that heaved through his body, yet the occasional one slipped through now and again.

"She brought me up and now—now she's gone. She's gone Karishma," he whispered, brokenly.

Jai...

I knew how much Gran meant to him. I could see it, and from what he told me, she practically raised him. I held him close, wrapping my arms around him and stroking his head–like what a mother would do to console their child.