A Heart of Stone with a Coat of Gold

Falling Out

Note - Liver transplant is one which the donor can donate a part of his liver to the recipient. Over time both the recipient and donor recover fully.

Bhaiyya - Elder Brother

Note - Touching feet is a sign of greeting in India, towards one elder to you, or one whom you revere or respect.

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"What did Neel do?" Anu whispered, her voice filled with anticipation.

Dhruv got up and ambled to the window, the one facing the yard. His back was to Anu, so his face remained hidden, but the fingers interlaced behind him tightened. "Dad had always been a heavy drinker. After he lost his rank, it only got worse. His liver finally gave up." He paused. "He needed a transplant. I agreed to donate but the tests failed. I was not a suitable match. So then I turned to Neel but- "

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" A loud deep voice rumbled in the living room. Like thunder.

Both of them turned towards the source. Anu's heart skipped a beat as she realised; she had forgotten to lock the door when Dhruv had arrived. That was one of the downsides of living in a big house: you never know when your husband would enter.

There he was standing at the entrance, visibly shaking with rage, a little girl beside him holding his hand. Reema was silent but her face gave away her distress at the whole affair.

Neel let the briefcase he was holding fall; it landed with a loud clang on the tiles. He curled his fists as his face contorted with fury.

He marched to the man beside the window. As they saw him stand side by side Anu noted the similarities, they both were very similar albeit Dhruv being a younger and more muscular version of Neel. She had to put her observations on hold as she saw the events take an ugly turn; Neel was holding his brother's collar.

"Who gave you permission to barge in my house and talk about me behind my back?" He spoke with gritted teeth, his voice softer but still full of contempt.

Dhruv's eyes flashed with anger. After all, he was an army man, one not used to receiving insults without giving one back.
Anu knew she had to intervene. God forbid what she would do if they started a fistfight. The event was highly unlikely given these were 2 grown up men - brothers to be specific. But men in rage, whatever their age or position may be, are untamed beasts who know only one way to settle a dispute: by biting each other off. Anu had always been baffled by the foolishness of the whole act.

"Neel what are you doing? Leave him. It was I who called him."

"You called him? Why?" Neel let go of Dhruv and turned towards the new focus of his ire, Anu.

"Because I'm your wife. You yourself told me many times that I can do stuff on my own right? Can't I invite my brother in law to our home? Or do I need your permission for that?" Neel was at a loss of words. Even in his anger he couldn't help but admire at the infallibility of Anu's argument. He himself had said the words, and now she was using it against him.

Still, he was beside himself with anger. He raised his voice again. "Don't play with words woman. Tell me why."

The whole thing was going nowhere. She knew she needed to pacify him. In the short time she had known him, she had realised, the man was reasonable when he was calm; if you knew the intentions behind his actions. The intentions which were slowly becoming clear to her day by day. But talk to him in his state of anger, you are sure to burn yourself. He could downright be mean and say the most downright nastiest things to you; ugly truths which you would never like to hear. And he was in such a state now, more so than she had ever seen him.

The whole commotion broke the peaceful slumber of Aryan, who had been sleeping in a crib. He started bawling at the top of his lungs.

"Calm down Neel. You are scaring the kids. Look I will tell you later but only when you have blown off your steam."

Neel threw her a scathing look. He turned towards Dhruv. For a moment Anu was afraid. But thankfully this time around his voice was slow, but it was nevertheless cold. So cold that it cut Dhruv visibly. "Leave. Get out of my house and never show your face again, unless I call you." He pointed his finger towards the exit.

The anger in Dhruv's eyes disappeared. It had been a fleeting emotion. Hell, he would even have enjoyed a fight with Neel, like they did when they were kids; later, of course, they would make up and laugh at the silliness of the reason of the fight like candy or comic. Now the anger was replaced by hurt, genuine hurt.

Dhruv only nodded. " I will leave then."

He got up to his rucksack and took out 2 items: a toy and a book. He gave a smile, or tried to, as he handed the book to Reema who looked cheerful on receiving the gift.

He then turned towards his nephew who was still crying. He circled the toy above him and then slowly placed in his small hands. The sobs subsided as the child became immersed in his new plaything. Dhruv reached out and tousled the soft feathery hairs of his nephew, and then turned around.

Neel scoffed. "My son doesn't need such cheap toys. I get him the best ones. Like the one I gave your kid on his birthday."

Dhruv replied, his voice calm and soft, without meeting his brother's eye. "I am sorry Bhaiyya. This was the best I could get. You see, I rushed here straight from my post."

Dhruv got up to leave. He turned towards Anu and gave her a warm smile, which Anu was relieved to see frankly. But his eyes like Neel's spoke volumes.

He was in pain, a lot of it.

Finally, he walked to Neel, bent and touched his feet. It was a sign of reverence and respect in theor culture, when you are seeking someone's blessing. Neel however, didn't even care to respond.

Dhruv reached the door. As he was about to leave, he paused and then turned back. His eyes met Neel's. "Bhaiyya, you know on his birthday when you gave my 6-year-old the shiny gift, what did he say? He asked me 'who is the gentleman who gave me the gift?" Dhruv took a pause.

"You realize it brother, my kid didn't even realize he had an uncle. At the very least this will not happen to Aryan. He will grow up knowing he has me, an uncle who loves him even if he can only afford him cheap toys. You can buy gifts Bhaiyya, but you cannot buy bonds. I hope someday you will understand."

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