Chapter 10

A/N: Tysm for all the reviews and silent readers. I feel pumped up. Hwaitiing.

Enjoy reading buddies.

…

Daya hesitantly knocked on the door of Abhijeet's room. He already prepared himself for the upcoming taunts and slanders. He first thought that it would be useless to go but being a soft-hearted guy, he did. He waited a minute before knocking again but this time he hears a little "aa jayien "from inside. He opened the door and peeped inside.

Daya could tell from Abhijeet's expression that he was not expecting him but still Daya slowly entered. Abhijeet raised his eyebrows to inquire him why he was there.

"Who maine suna tha ke aap ki tabiyat kharab hai tu dekhne aagaya." Abhijeet rolled his eyes on his comment.

"Kharab thi, ab theek hai. Tu yahan dekhne ke liye kuch nahi hai."

"You know. I was just concerned." Daya said.

"And may I ask why were you?"

"Because you are my brother. Step brother but still." Daya tried to smile.

"Seriously, I thought you would hate me too but there you are." Abhijeet threw his blanket away and tried to stand.

"Why would I do that, and to be honest (Daya bit his lip) I don't know why you hate me. (Abhijeet shoot him an angry glance) I mean I know you can be angry on baba but what's my fault in all of that. We can live as brothers."

"Tumhien is ghar mein aur koi nahi mila pakkane ke liye, ya mera sar khane ka tumhien shauq hai? Abhijeet aske irritatingly.

"Kya kaha, kitni mushkil hindi hai aap ki mujhe kuch bhi samjh nahi aaya." Daya lied

"Bahr niklo foran, chalo."

Daya dragged himself out. "Lagta hai waqai tabiyat kharab hai. Kyunke aap ne mujhe dhakke de kar bahir nahi nikala.

Abhijeet frowned so Daya himself ran out. He rubbed his hands on his face and went to his bed replying to the concerned messages of Karan. One or two even made him smile.

…

LAST NIGHT FLASHBACK

Pradyuman was silently staring at Daya's face who was sleeping peacefully, at least he thought that.Every day with him, He could see that Abhijeet was slipping further away from him and there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing but watch it happen. His son's words were ringing in his head. It was the hate in his voice, rather than his statement that shook him. He remembers his eyes where he couldn't find a single ounce of love for himself. It was hard. He again looked at Daya and smiled pitifully. He tried to force himself to sleep but all in vain. He kept shifting in his bed eventually getting irritated. He eases himself out of the bed quietly, making sure he doesn't disturb Daya. Lucky him, as soon as he reached his room door, someone knocked it out loud. He didn't give the other person a second chance and immediately opened the door.

He saw Ramu Kaka standing in front of him, staring at him, his eyes struck with horror.

"Kya hua, Ramu Kaka aap is waqt yahan"

"Who chote sahab ...woh wahan…"

Pradyuman didn't bother to hear another word and pushed past him, with long steps nearly running. His mind got occupied with the worst. He pushed the already opened door.

His blood chills—as if his veins would shatter like glass if he moved. But he did move.

Abhijeet was lying on the floor on his side, facing the door, with his long fingers covering his eyes like he saw something he shouldn't. His body seems stiffened like life was drained out of it. He immediately drops to his knees and lifts his head. He slowly removes his hands from his eyes and saw the trail of tears running down his eyes and his heart ached with the thought that the reason for all this is him. He could feel the burning skin under his hand.

He hesitantly wrapped his hands around him like he is trying to claim something that doesn't belong to him.

"Ramu kaka aap doctor ko phone karien." Pradyuman yelled without looking behind.

He tried to lift him only to find him lighter than he thought. Unexpected revelation after unexpected revelation. He shifts him to his bed and made him lie down on his side and tucked him in the blanket. He still looks like his toddler self. Nothing has changed. No, everything has changed.

His son's love for him changed.

His son's respect for him changed

Their relationship has changed

He reluctantly touched his forehead. It was still hot. He saw his body shivering with cold or fear he doesn't know. He remembers how his loving words used to soothe him in his childhood.

"Abhijeet, main yahin hoon. hmm. darne ki koi baat nahi hai." He removed some strands of hair falling on his face. Abhijeet's body was still trembling and a tear escaped from Pradyuman's eyes. So much has changed.

He went out of the room to inform Suresh. He fastened towards his room and started pounding on the door. He could hear some movement inside the room so he slowed down. Suresh opened the door, his eyes heavy with sleep. Suresh opened his mouth to say something but Pradyuman stopped him.

"Abhijeet ki tabiyat bahut kharab hai, tum aana zara mere sath." Pradyuman pleaded.

"Kya hua usse." Suresh narrowed his eyes.

"Pata nahi…pa bahut tez bukhar hai. Doctor aarahe hain."

"Ooff…bukhar (Suresh frowned) Aur aap aisa behave kar rahe hain jaise ke usse heart attack ho gaya ho."

Pradyuman jerked on his words. The choice of words from Suresh was ill. There wasn't a grain of sympathy in him for his brother.

"Bukhar bahut aam hai yahan. (He leaned towards Pradyuman) London mein shayad yeh koi anokhi bemari keh layi jati ho lekin yahan nahi. Aap pareshan mat hoyein, khudi theek ho jaye ga."

He closes the door on his face. Pradyuman clenches his jaw, pressing his lips tightly making a thin line to stop his outburst. He shook his head in disapproval. Luckily, the doctor who just arrived distracted him. Ramu kaka guided him to the room and Pradyuman followed him.

The doctor examined Abhijeet attentively. When he was done, he prescribed him some medicines and rest.

"Yeh shayad dar gaya hai kisi cheez se, He is still trembling. Bukhar zyada der tak nahi rahe ga par weakness rahe gi. Rest kare tu acha ahi is ke liye." The doctor smiled

Pradyuman nodded at him but didn't return the smile. The gears of his mind were turning fast. He spends the rest of the night checking upon him and fighting with himself.

…

Pradyuman knocked on the door and entered inside. His mother was sitting on her bed reading a book that she placed aside. She motioned him to sit and asked him the reason.

"Who maa mein yeh kehne aaya tha ke (He stopped for a minute) ke maine socha hai ke hum log wapis chale jayien.

Vibha held her breath and hides her excitement well.

"Par beta tum ne tu kaha tha ke ab yahin raho ge. Hamare sath. Yeh aik dam se jane ki bat kahan se aagayi.

"Mujhe yahi sahi laga, foran nahi jaa raha matlab aik mahina tu lage ka kamaz kam. (Taking a deep sigh) Aur main Abhijeet ko bhi apne sath le kar jaun ga." He announced.

It took seconds for the expressions on Vibha's face to change. Pradyuman noticed the visible change.

"Par yeh achaanak usse le kar janne ka khayal tumhien kahan se aagaya?" Vibha asked angrily

"Maa who mera beta hai aur phir main chahta hoon who mere sath rahe."

"Yeh baat tumhien 20 saal baad yaad aayi hai." Itne arse se tumhien khayal nahi aaya.'

"Haan ho gayi ghalti mujhse, aur ab mein wahi ghalti sudharna chahta hoon." Pradyuman hissed.