"Bhaiya, aap Kahan ja rhe ho?"

Arnav walked away without a reply.

"Bhaiya?" Ayaansh shouted behind him but Arnav continued walking away from him, in the darkness lying beyond.

"Bhaiya!"

"Bhaiya!"

"BHAIYA!!!"

Ayaansh woke up startled, sweating profusely, shaking and his heart pounding with the adrenaline rush inside his chest. He looked around frantically and panicked when he found the same darkness around him.

Aniket rushed inside his room and was shocked to see him in that condition. He immediately took Ayaansh in his arms.

The touch agitated Ayaansh. He flinched back.

"Bhaiya chahiye..." He mumbled in between his sobs. "Bhaiya.."

Aniket tensed. He turned around when Arnav rushed in. Arnav saw Ayaansh and he knew what was happening. He quickly stepped in and pulled Ayaansh in his embrace. He was grateful Aryan had fallen asleep in his room that night. He wouldn't have taken the scene well.

Ayaansh jerked him away. "Bhaiya chahiye mujhe.."

"Mai hi hoon, bachcha! Tere paas hi hoon, dekh? Shh.." Arnav held him firmly, against his protest and rubbed his back to break his trance.

"Bhaiya chale gye...woh mujhe chhod ke chale gye.. He left me alone.." Ayaansh struggled in his arms untill his breath started getting hitched and Arnav made him look at him forcefully. "Mai hoon, Ayu. I'm right here and I'll never leave you!"

It took a second for Ayaansh to sink in that he was in Arnav's arms. He hugged Arnav tightly and gulped back his tears.

"Shh, yahin hoon mai, bachcha. Kahan jaunga tujhe chhod ke? Bas kar.." Arnav drew soothing circles on his back.

A terrified Ayaansh held onto Arnav for his life. Arnav held him protectively, swallowing the pain he felt in his chest. He leaned back on the bed post. His body was still weak to hold so much weight.

After some time, Ayaansh's breathing got back to normal. Arnav's heartbeats calmed him down, as always! He pulled back when Aniket offered him a glass of water.

"Thik hai, bachcha?" Arnav asked as he wiped away the sweat from his face gently.

Ayaansh nodded and looked at his brothers. Worry was etched all across their features. "Sorry, maine jaga diya na aap dono ko?"

"Don't talk rubbish, Ayu." Arnav shrugged it away. "Jyada mat soch aur chal so ja abhi."

Ayaansh gulped and leaned into Arnav more. His heart was still racing with fear.

Aniket tensed. "Bhaiya, mai ruk jata hoon. Aap jaiye..."

Arnav saw the way Ayaansh was gripping him. He shook his head at Aniket. "Tu ja, Ani. Mai iske saath so jata hoon."

Relieved to hear that, Ayaansh let himself relax in Arnav's embrace. Arnav ignored the pain that shot up in his arm and wrapped it around Ayaansh to comfort him. He could always feel his siblings' emotions. He knew Ayaansh wanted to feel his presence.

Aniket tensed seeing the pain on Arnav's face before he quickly masked it up. He wanted to protest but decided against it. He could understand Ayaansh's state. He needed the assurances that only Arnav could give. He had been through innumerable nightmares to know how it felt like. And just like Ayaansh, he, too, wanted Arnav beside him every time he woke up from the scare.

Quietly getting up, he placed some pillows behind Arnav's back and below his arm to make him comfortable. Arnav sighed and gave him a grateful look. Aniket caressed Ayaansh's face once and left them alone.

Ayaansh was still hugging Arnav. Arnav let him take time to calm down. If his hug could make it better, he would hug his little brother forever untill he felt okay!

Running his fingers through Ayaansh's hair, Arnav drifted off to sleep even before Ayaansh. The medicine was showing its effect. Ayaansh looked up to find him sleeping. His eyes filled up. He couldn't survive without Arnav! He hadn't realised how much important Arnav was to him untill the fear of losing him seeped into his veins. Untill Arnav refused to open his eyes to his pleadings, untill Arnav's arms didn't embrace his tears, untill the starlit sky seemed like a dead black hole without Arnav beside him!

When his parents died, not for a second, he had felt this kind of fear taking over him. But seeing Arnav walking away from him made him feel like sinking deep down in ocean, grasping for air, untill he hit the rock bottom!

Pulling over the comforter, Ayaansh carefully hugged back Arnav and closed his eyes. Arnav's presence soothed his fears and warmed him up. Only in Arnav's embrace could he find the solitude to sleep through the storm in his heart!

The next morning was filled with hustle and bustle in the mansion. Ashi was overseeing all the arrangements alongwith Aniket. Aniket saw Arnav coming down in hurry and rushed to his side.

"Bhaiya!" Aniket chided. "Kya kar rhe ho aap?"

"Pata nhi how come I slept for so long, Ani. Neend hi nhi khuli meri..."

"You're under medication, Bhaiya. Khamkha kyun tension le rhe ho?" Aniket said with a sigh. "Idhar aao aap baitho yahan."

"Aaj Puja hai yaar. Itne kaam honge..."

Aniket didn't let him protest and made him sit. "Dawai li aapne?"

Arnav shook his head.

"Breakfast?"

Aniket glared at him when Arnav shook his head again. "Aapka kuch nhi ho sakta, Bhaiya. Agar mai aisa karu toh?"

Arnav shrugged it away. "Puja ki taiyyari ho gyi sari?"

"Sab ho jayega, Bhaiya. Aapke Jo yeh clan of soilders hai, yeh kis din kaam aayenge?"

"Aapki shaadi wale din, Bhaiyu!" Aryan's gleeful voice came from behind.

Aniket threw him a disgusted look.

"Sahi toh kaha, Bhaiyu. Aapki shaadi me iiiitneeee kaam honge..."

Aniket ignored his rant and asked. "Tu yahan kaise aaya?"

Aryan grinned and pointed at the door. "Wahan ek rectangular shape ka door hai, Bhaiyu, wahan se aaya. Aur mere paas legs hai made up of bones and..."

A hard whack on his head and he glared at Aniket before rushing to Arnav's side, wailing about the injustice. "Dekho, Bhaiya, kitni zyaakhti kar rhe hai Bhaiyu aapke bachche par."

Arnav ruffled his hair smilingly. Aniket reached out to whack him again but Arnav had him shielded. "Bachcha hai, Ani. Kyun usse pareshan kar rha hai?"

"Mai pareshan kar rha hoon?" Aniket gave him an unbelievable look.

Aryan smiled mischievously at Aniket.

Shaking his head, Aniket got up and walked away when he heard Ashi calling out for him.

"Aapne dawai li, Bhaiya?" Aryan asked.

Arnav shook his head.

"Breakfast kiya?"

Arnav sighed and shook his head again.

Aryan glared at him. "Kab karoge?"

His cute harmless glare made Arnav smile. "Abhi kar lunga. Tune khaya?"

"Kha liya maine, aap ruko, mai leke aata hoon aapka breakfast." Aryan ran away saying that.

Ayaansh came down just then and approached Arnav. Arnav smiled at him.

"Aapne dawai li, Bhaiya?"

Arnav felt like palming his face. He didn't have it in him to give the same reply and get the same reaction for third time.

"Breakfast kiya?" Ayaansh asked suspiciously, seeing him silent.

Now, Arnav did palm his face.

"Aapka kuch nhi ho sakta, Bhaiya!" Ayaansh said and Arnav was annoyed and amused at the same time.

The amused look made Ayaansh glare at Arnav. He shook his head and walked away. His Bhaiya was hopeless!

"Bhabhi..." Ayaansh stopped as he found both Aniket and Aryan in the kitchen along with Ashi.

Ashi smiled amusedly. "Arnav ke liye breakfast chahiye?"

Ayaansh was confused with her smile but nodded his head.

Jumping down from the kitchen counter, Aryan laughed and put a plate of food in Ayaansh's hands. "Yeh lo, Bhai. Aap hi bache the bas."

"Matlab?" Ayaansh frowned.

Ashi shook her head in exasperated fondness. Both Aniket and Aryan had come to her for the same one after another. And now Ayaansh too!

"Teeno teen plate lekar jaoge ya ek me ho jayega?" She asked playfully.

That made Aniket and Aryan chuckle and Ayaansh smile. So his brothers were also there for the same reason!

"Ek me kaam chala lenge, Bhabhi." Aryan grinned. "Teen dekh kar pata chala Bhaiya ek plate ka bhi na khaye."

Ashi smiled. "Jao phir. Puja shuru hone me jyada der nhi hai. Guests aane shuru ho jayenge toh time nhi milega."

The brothers nodded and left from there.

"You've to drink it, Bhaiya! Rishi Bhai ne kaha hai!" Aryan declared as he kept the glass of juice in front of him.

Arnav cringed. It was vegetable juice. Fruits juices were fine but vegetable juices grossed him out.

"Aru, maine breakfast kar liya na. Iski kya zarurat hai? Vapas le ja ise kitchen me!"

"Yeh juice Bhabhi ne bheja hai aur woh abhi bhi kitchen me hi hai." Aryan informed gleefully. "Le jau vapas kitchen me?"

Aniket couldn't hold back his laugh. The little bean was gradually learning the tricks well Arnav glared at him. He knew who was teaching the tricks to his innocent child.

"Boliye, Bhaiya!" Aniket teased.

"Phek de juice aur glass le ja." Arnav replied, annoyed.

Ayaansh rolled his eyes. "Jaise hum juice phekenge aur Bhabhi ko pata hi nhi chalega."

Arnav rubbed his forehead in frustration.

This was the scene Sharda walked in to. She looked at them questioningly. "Kya ho gya? Sab aise Arnav ko ghere kyun baithe ho?"

Aniket got up to offer his chair to her and smiled. "Kuch nhi, Masi. Baithiye na."

Sharda smiled and sat down with them. One look at the boy's faces and the glass of juice in their hands and she knew the matter.

"Bachche ho kya, Arnav. Pi lo juice. It's good for your health, beta."

Being helpless, Arnav reached for the glass and gulped down the juice. He couldn't fight so many people at one time.

Aniket forwarded him his medicines.

Arnav sighed and took them. He knew his siblings wouldn't move na inch untill he has them. He didn't want them to worry over him. It pained him a lot to see tears in their eyes because of him.

Sharda gave him a piece of lime she had gotten from the kitchen. It always helped fix the taste buds. Arnav looked doubtful but one lick and he felt a lot better. The taste of the juice no longer lingered on his tongue.

"Thank you, masi." He smiled gratefully.

"You don't have to be so formal, bachcha." Sharda smiled but Arnav could hear the hidden sadness behind her voice. He wanted to reach out but for some unknown reasons he couldn't.

"Bhaiya!"

All of them looked towards the source of voice and everyone's face was instantly lit up with a smile, except for Ayaansh and Sharda who stood confused.

Arnav opened his arms and the girl hugged him. Arnav smiled. "Kaisi ho, Shivi?"

On getting no reply, Arnav tried to pull back but Shivangi held on. Arnav tensed when he felt her sobs. "Shivi? Kya hua?"

"Aap thik ho na, Bhaiya?"

Arnav had to strain his ears to hear her words. He sighed in relief when he realised she was only worried about him. "Haan, bachcha, mai bilkul thik hoon. Kyun ro rhi hai, chup ho ja!"

Shivangi cried in his embrace. She was dead scared when she had heard of Arnav's condition. Arnav meant the world to her. He had stood up for her when no one else had. Arnav patted her head gently muttering sweet nothings to calm her down.

After some time, Shivangi pulled back and smiled at Arnav. "Aapne toh dara hi diya tha, Bhaiya!"

Arnav wiped her tears and kissed her forehead. "I'm really sorry. Ab tu bata kab aayi New York se?"

"Bas abhi aayi, Bhaiya!" She smiled but soon it turned into a glare. "Kahan hai aapka Bhai, Bhaiya? Aapki pata hai maine use kitne calls kiye? Airport aane wala tha woh. Kahan busy hai wakil sahab? Bulao aap uss gadhe ko..."

Aryan didn't give her the chance to complete and hugged her. "Mujhse bhi toh mil lo, di? Saari attention Bhaiya aur Bhaiyu ke liye?"

Shivangi smiled and hugged him back. "Arey tujhse hi toh milne aayi hoon, bachcha. I missed you the most!"

"Tere Bhaiyu vaise bhi attention ke layak nhi hai." She added as an afterthought.

Aryan laughed over her comment.

Sharda and Ayaansh were amused at the scenario. Arnav noticed that and that gently pulled Shivangi from Aryan. "Shivi, this is..."

"Ayu?" Shivangi completed for him.

Arnav nodded. He knew his brother had no secrets from her. He discreetly looked around to see where his idiot of a brother was!

Ayaansh was surprised when Shivangi hugged him. "Hi, Ayu!"

She noticed his confusion and looked at him incredulously. "Tell me your Bhaiyu hasn't told you about me?"

Ayaansh shook his head.

Shivangi moved her gaze around the hall but shook her head when she couldn't find her culprit anywhere.

"She is Shivi di!" Aryan told him happily. "My best friend and crime partner!"

Shivangi ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Masi, this is Shivangi. My sister!" Arnav looked at Shivangi who nodded slightly and took Sharda's blessings. She already knew who Sharda was!

Sharda was still confused but smiled and gave her blessings. "Khush raho!"

"Bhabhi Kahan hai, Bhaiya? Mujhe sabse pehle toh unse milna tha!" Shivangi asked excitedly. "I wasn't even there for your wedding..." Her voice turned low.

Arnav side hugged her. "You know the situation in which we married, right? Varna mai apni behen ke bina kabhi shaadi karta kya?"

Shivangi nodded with a soft smile. She knew how much Arnav loved her. She shrugged away her thoughts. "Achcha, abhi toh Bhabhi se milwao?"

"Mai milwata hoon, di. Aa jao, Bhabhi Puja ki taiyaari kar rhi hai!" Aryan said as he guided her away.

"Aniket!" Arnav called out flatly as soon as they walked away.

"Aniket!" He called out sternly.

Aniket, who was hiding behind a pillar, came out and gave a sheepish smile to Arnav.

Arnav glared at him. "kyun nhi gaya airport?"

Aniket scratched his head. He didn't want to say that he had forgotten. Arnav whacked him on the head. "Go and make it up to her!"

"Haan, haan, Bhaiya. Mana lunga aapki behen ko..." Aniket trailed off seeing Arnav's glare and huffed.

Ayaansh chuckled.

Aniket whacked him unceremoniously.

"Mujhe kyun maar rhe ho?"

"Time out, boys!" Arnav said firmly. "Aniket, go to Shivi."

"Chala jaunga..."

"NOW!"

Aniket sighed and made his way towards the kitchen, sending a quick prayer for himself.

"Tum dono bhi Jake ready ho jao! Puja me jyada time nhi hai!" Sharda told them.

By the time the brothers came down, the mansion was filled with people and media. Arnav and Ashi were greeting the guests. Ayaansh saw Rihaan standing with Rishaan and made his way towards them.

"Hello, Bhai!" Ayaansh greeted Rishaan.

"Hi, Ayu!" Rishaan smiled at him. "I saw your performance. You were absolutely amazing!"

"Thank you, Bhai."

"Abey mai bhi yahi hoon. Mujhe bhi hello bol?" Rihaan demanded.

Ayaansh rolled his eyes. "Nhi bolunga.."

"Bolna padega! Abhi bol varna..." Rihaan left the threat midway as the priest started calling them for aarti.

Everyone gathered around the idol for aarti. The brothers performed the aarti together every year but this year, they insisted Ashi to join Arnav. Ashi was reluctant initially. She didn't want to change anything among the brothers. She was happy with her own place. But in the end she had to give in when she realised they were not changing their stance.

Arnav and Ashi went ahead and started the aarti. Ashi stepped back after a moment. Arnav turned back and looked at his brothers. Aniket and Aryan came forward and kept their hands under Arnav's hands to perform the Aarti.

Ayaansh stood still. He was apprehensive of all the media around. They were raise a bunch of questions unceremoniously and intrude in their family matter unnecessarily.

Arnav forwarded him his other hand. "Aarti me aao, Ayaansh."

Ayaansh hesitated.

Ashi gently spoke to him. "Tumhare Bhaiya kuch keh rhe hai, Ayu. Sabke saamne unki baat katoge?"

Ayaansh shook his head and stepped ahead to hold his brother's hands. He could never disobey his Bhaiya like that.The brothers performed the Aarti together.

After Aarti all the brothers joined their hands and completed the puja. The priest did Arnav's tilak and handed over the puja's thaali to him. Arnav did that for his brothers every year.

But Arnav handed it over to Sharda. He did that as there was no elder among them. Sharda could fill in the place for them. Sharda gladly took the plate and did their tilak. Arnav and Ashi took her blessings followed by the boys.

"Puja khatam hui, beta. Sabko prasad baant sakte hai ab." The priest said.

Arnav nodded. He was just walking away when Aniket and Aryan stopped him. He looked at them.

"Humara tilak?" Aryan gave him the thaali again.

"Masi ne kar toh diya, Aru.."

"Aapne toh nhi kiya na, Bhaiya!" Aryan cut him off.

Arnav fell silent.

"Itne saalon se aap hi humara tilak karte aaye ho na? Jab tak aap nhi karoge, hume tasalli nhi hogi, Bhaiya!" Aniket smiled at him.

Arnav's eyes misted. He knew neither of them believed in god or any of these and still these little things held so much significance for them. His siblings love always left him overwhelmed.

He blinked away the moisture from his eyes and took the plate from Aryan's hands. He did Aryan's tilak and Aryan took his blessings. Arnav kissed his forehead. "Bhagwan tujhe humesha khush rakhe, beta!"

Arnav turned to Aniket and did his tilak. Aniket bent down and touched his feet. Arnav made him stand and kissed his forehead. "Jeeta reh, Ani!"

The three of them hugged each other.

Ayaansh who was standing at a little distance from them smiled looking at his brothers. Their love always left him baffled.

Arnav saw Ayaansh smiling and gestured him to come over. Ayaansh walked up to Arnav. He was taken aback when Arnav did his tilak and kissed his forehead the same way he had done with Aryan and Aniket a few moments ago.

Arnav cupped his face. "Humesha khush reh, bachcha!"

Ayaansh's eyes filled up.

Arnav walked away to attend the guests but Ayaansh couldn't move. His Bhaiya had handed him his share of right so casually without even being obvious about it. The right Ayaansh was too scared to excercise! Right to his brother's love! The moment was unnerving for Ayaansh.

He had grown up wanting love but only watching it fade away every moment. Only after he got Arnav, he realised love wasn't that difficult to find. Love could be gathered from the shared laughter, could be collected from the warm hugs, from a happy meal at dining table and some random affectionate caresses!

In these kind of quietest moments, when time appeared to be stilled, his mind was suddenly able to grasp the present before it slipped away. In these moments, he could hear his younger self grieving for all the things his present self had!

He knew Arnav had given him the rights, that was the reason behind his amplified dreams and desires. But he was still scared to excercise those! He was too scared to be walked away from all over again!

"Ek baar apna haq jata kar toh dekh?"

Aniket's voice startled him out of his trance. He looked at Aniket blankly. Aniket cupped his face and wiped away his tears. Ayaansh quickly composed himself. He didn't realise when the tears slipped down.

"Ek baar apna haq jata kar toh dekh, Ayu. Tu Bhai hai humara. It hurts us when you don't excercise your right." Aniket said gently. "It makes us feel humne toh tujhe apne bhai maan liya par tune nhi maana!"

"Aisa nhi hai, Bhaiyu, sachchi.."

"Actions speak louder than words, bachcha!"

Ayaansh's eyes filled up.

Aniket sighed and pulled him in a hug. "Mai tujhe bura feel nhi karwana chahta, Ayu, bas samjhana chahta hoon. Exert your rights! It will make us happy too! Tu aarti me aane se kyu hichak rha tha?"

"Media thi, Bhaiyu. They will ask about me.."

"Haan toh there is nothing to hide! If they ask about you, we will tell them you're our brother! Bhaiya ne kabhi family matters media me discuss nhi Kiya but agar kisi ne kabhi humare family par ek ungli bhi uthayi hai toh Bhaiya ne usse dobara kuch kehne layak nhi chhod. He knows how to handle media!"

"Par bekar me scene create hota na, Bhaiyu.."

Aniket sighed helplessly. The boy wasn't getting the point. "It's not about the media, Ayu. It's about you and your feelings. Tu jaanta hai na humare ghar me aarti saare Bhai mil kar karte hai. Phir bhi tu piche raha! Kyun, bachcha?"

Ayaansh looked down. He was getting a hunch of what Aniket was trying to explain.

"You're only hurting yourself by not exerting your rights. And by hurting yourself, you're ultimately hurting us, bachcha!"

Aniket walked away saying that. He had said what was needed. The rest was Ayaansh's part. Beyond a certain point, there was no return. But that certain point has to be reached!

Ayaansh blinked away his tears. He felt lost. He wanted to rush to Arnav and hug him tightly. He was feeling the kind of sadness that was intangible. Like the presence of an ache where he couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was hurting, but he jus knew it was!

"Is he your illegitimate brother, Mr. Singhania?"

The question hit Ayaansh like a thunderstorm. It was happening! Whatever he had feared was happening. With racing breath and shaking hands, he turned around to see Arnav surrounded by the media, throwing questions at him concurrently.

The brothers eyes met with each other. Both of them held different emotions. Arnav saw the tears and closed his eyes for a moment. He wished he could have seen trust in place of fear in Ayaansh's eyes. When he opened his eyes, the warmth was gone and the ruthless businessman turned to the world to answer their questions!
____________________________________

A/n

How was the chapter?

Favourite character or scene?

Now, I'm keeping targets for this book form here onwards!

150 VOTES AND COMMENTS!

I know what are you guys thinking, last chapter didn't even have 50 comments and I'm asking for 150. Yeah, I know I'm being mean (:

Take your own time!

Hope you guys liked the chapter!

Love,
Muskan