Daya's face was full of fear. He was feeling something strange in his heart which he could not identify. He started to shake Abhi slowly, "Abhi - Abh Tum utho na- Abhi - "...

He was continuously shaking him with this, his eyes became teary...

In Abhijeet's mind the last thing he could remember was he slapped Daya...

Maine usse thappad mara tha - usne ghalati to ki - lekin jaan bujh ke to nahi ki - phir bhi maine usse maara - uska Abhi ne! Kitna roya hoga na mera bhai...

He could feel Daya's presence around him. He wanted to touch him - he wanted to take him into a comforting hug, he wanted to make him forget the pain he gave to him - but nothing he could do - except opening his eyes slightly and lifting his hand a little bit in order to touch the blurry image of Daya in front of him.

Daya saw him opening his eyes and trying to move his hand. He brought his face near his.

"Bolo na Abhi - tumhe kya ho raha hai? Tum aisa kyu kar rahe ho?" he was asking in a tone full of fear. Then he remembered something, "Abhi - paani - tumhe paani chahiye na? main - main abhi lata hun -"

Daya rushed leaving Abhijeet there. Abhijeet was still murmuring in almost an inaudible tone, "M-m-main thik hun Daya - Daya - tu aise fikr mat kar - Daya - mere paas aa"...

But his voice did not reach to Daya. After only a few seconds Daya came back with a glass full of water. He lifted Abhijeet's head carefully with one hand and tried to make him drink the water. But it might be Daya's inexperienced hand - or mght be Abhijeet's weak condition due to high fever - most of it spilled out - he was not able to drink the water properly...

Daya kept the glass aside.

Abhi to paani bhi thik se nahi pee raha hai! Ab main kya krun? Mera Abhi ko kya ho gaya hai? Woh mujhse baat bhi nahi kar paa rahe hai -

Daya thought. He took a towel and wiped off the water that was spilled on Abhijeet's body in an haphazard manner. Abhijeet was staring at Daya who was busy in cleaning - and saying continuously "Tumhe kuch nahi hoga Abhi - tum thik ho jaogey -" A scene flashed in his memory -

It was a stormy night (better to say, late night) in Mumbai. Abhijeet returned home after chasing a criminal. He entered house to find Daya sitting on the sofa wide awake - waiting for him. Abhijeet was not afraid of chasing that ruthless criminal throughout the whole day - but he was afraid of this - this only! His brother was there with his hands crossed against his chest.

"Agaye janab" - Daya growled in a sarcastic manner, "Bahar dekha aapne?"

"Arre Daya - woh ek criminal ko pakadna tha -" Abhijeet tried to explain him as polietly as possible, but only avoiding his piercing gaze!

"Haan - to hum sab log mar gaye they kya? Do din bhi nahi huye tumhe duty join kiya - kisiko keh nahi sakte they tum? Itni barish me chal padi!" Daya's voice raised.

Abhijeet tried to argue, but his extreme weak body did not accompany him. He was about to fall, when a tight grip stopped him.

"Bohot taqleef ho raha hai Abhi? Kya hua? Please Abhi, batao na - kya ho raha hai? T-tum thik ho jaogey - kuch nahi hoga tumhe Abhi - kuch bhi nahi", His voice suddenly radically changed into the most caring and concerned tone in the world! Dayas eyes were full of care and concern. He was making Abhijeet lie down on the sofa - with so much love -

He was continuously repeating these few words, "Bas Abhi - abhi thik ho jayega - kuch nahi hoga tumhe -"

Abhijeet was only staring at his brother - who seemed to be much more in pain. Now he was the one who needed consoling. Abhijeet kept his hand on Daya's shoulder, "Daya - itna bhi fikr mat kar yaar - kuch nahi hua hai - m-main thik hun -"

After a long time, Daya's words made him feel like it was His Daya!

He finally could say, "Daya - itna bhi fikr mat kar - kuch nahi hua hai - m-m-main thik hun -"

Daya's hands suddenly stopped and he looked at him with a strange expression. He looked lost!

Just then the doorbell rang and Daya ran towards the door. It was his doctor - he came for Daya's regular check up! He was surprised to see Daya opening the door as it was usually Abhijeet who did this.

"Are wah Daya - tum to -" He tried to say something but stopped as Daya already started to pull him by his hand. He then noticed the panicked face of Daya!

"Doctor - aap jaldi se mera Abhi ko thik kar do - Abhi - Abhi ko kya ho gaya hai - woh - woh bas aise soye huye hai - aur - aur - woh kuch keh bhi nahi raha hai - maine pani diya - par saare gira diya - uska- uska - haath aur face bhi kitna garam hai - " Daya said all these in one single breadth in an extremely panicked way.

The doctor tried to pacify him with, "Chalo chalo - main abhi dekhta hun tumhara Abhi ko - usse bukhar hua hoga - thik ho jayega beta -"

But Daya was not completely assured with this, though he did not say any thing, just followed him quietly.

After a thorough check up the doctor realized that it was nothing more than just a fever. Throughout the whole process Abhijeet asked him several times, "Doctor - mujhe bas thoda sa bukhar hai - aap dawai de do - thik ho jayega - par w-woh Daya - Daya ko - woh bohot darr gaya hai - doctor saab - usse please samjhaiye - "

Then again after sometime, "Daya - tu - tu mere paas baith na - chup chap - yaha aake baith -"

He looked at Daya and found him looing keenly at Abhijeet while moving his hand softly on his forehead! The doctor was surprised to see Daya like this. It was a huge improvement and totally unexpected in such an early stage! But it was Abhijeet who was patient now, so he started with a soft tone, "Daya - beta - Abhijeet ko bukhar hai - woh barish me bheega tha kya?"

Daya nodded as yes, still looking at Abhijeet. Since morning, there was a strange kind of pain he was feeling, other than the fear, which he could not identify.

Doctor: Beta, tum logo ne subah se kuch khaya?

Daya: Nahi - hum to bahar gaye the na - phir main uss - (pointing towards the window) uss taraf Abhi ko bina bataye chala gaya - aur aur phir - phir barish bhi shuru ho gaya - phir jab Abhi aya - to woh bohot gusse me they - aur pure bheeg gaye they - phir ussne mujhe m-

Daya stopped in between.

Main isse kyun batayun? Mera Abhi - mujhe mara - woh jo marzi kare - isse nahi bataunga main - huh!

Doctor smiled a little looking at Daya's face. That elderly person could easily guess what would happen between these two. He preferred to leave the topic there.

Doctor: Chalo, koi baat nahi - main tum dono ke liye kuch khana bhejwa deta hun Raju se - woh kha lena - aur apna bhai ko bhi khilana, thik hai? Ab main usse medicine de raha hun, woh jald hi thik ho jayega beta- tum fikr mat karo. Aur yeh medicine (he showed Daya a strip of medicine) Abhi ko raat e waqt dena hai - sirf ek goli - tum de paogey?

The doctor looked at Daya's face keenly. His face was too serious. He took that strip from his hand, and looked at it minutely then he nodded as yes.

Then the doctor took out the syringe to give Abhijeet injection but to his shock, Daya held his hand tightly. There was extreme fear on his face.

Daya shouted in pain, "Nahi - woh dardwala suii nahi - Abhi ko yeh mat lagana - Abhi - Abhi ko dard hoga -"

But he was stopped by Abhijeet, who held his hand softly, "Daya - isse dard nahi hoga mujhe- dekh - tu meri taraf dekh - bas - kuch nahi hoga mujhe -"

While saying this, he signaled the doctor, who pushed the injection into his vein. He flinched a little, his grip on Daya's hand tightened a bit. Daya's face came near him, and he could feel Daya's another hand was placed on his grip. A smile made its way to his face.

The doctor silently witnessed the pure love between them...

A/N: So - this was it - a really quick update... I was a little late last time, so this was my compensation. A special note: there are many things in this chapter which would not be complete without my lovely sister - Nandita - thank you dear...

Thank you to all of you who are reading and reviewing my first effort on DUO. I am really feeling lucky that I am able to make you happy through my story. Keep smiling, be happy.

-Abhirikafan