Aryamaan Khurana

Soha Khurana

"Think of devil and devil is here."

I teasingly say as I love to pull his leg. Arya nears me and retorts with a frown.

"A witch can only think about the devil."

I roll my eyes at him.

"You...! You called me witch? How dare..."

I chide at him and forward my hand to pull his ear. He immediately steps back.

"Only I can dare to call you a witch, Murthy. I have a brave heart."

I try to pounce on him and counter,

"Wait..let me burst your brave heart and make it a deflated balloon.."

He dodges my attack and hides behind Soha and Maan. Maan giggles at our childish act.

"Budhy..Mummum...he..he...lan..lan...(Buddy..Mummum..he..he..run..run)"

Yes, Maan calls Arya his buddy. Both don't have much difference in maturity. In fact, Maan sometimes behaves more maturely than this stupid. I again try to catch him. This time he raises his hands in defeat.

"Okay, okay...we can continue this cat-fight at night when you will join the dinner. Right now, go to hell."

I gape and widen my eyes. He just said that! Arya shrugs and retorts,

"Your office is nothing better than hell. So, please go there if you don't want to lose your job very soon."

He gestures dramatically.

"Oh my God. I totally forgot. This moron..."

I curse him inwardly and peck Maan's cheek in a hurry. I am really late. I rush to my car when Arya yells,

"Sharp 7 pm. We will be waiting."

I show my thumps up and press the accelerator.

.........................................

I am skirting my inquisitive eyes on the browser pages and articles where every single piece of information is written about 'Decoración'. It is an old company. At least older than ELYSIAN. But if I compare it with our company on the basis of turnover and reputation, then it can't stand even near to us. I go through every detail of it. It has 3 branches in South America but its head office is in Salvador. Although I am to travel almost every corner of this world for ELYSIAN'S work I haven't visited Brazil yet. It will be a good exploration. I click on the URL of Salvador. It's my habit to study a place before going there. It's a beautiful place with the longest coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. There are alluring beaches surrounded by reefs. I type 'Architecture of Salvador' and it shows me breath-taking Portuguese colonial monuments. Sometimes I really wonder how did these 16th and 17th century architects build these mesmerising structures without modern technology? In that case, we are very petty in front of them. I keep on watching the gallery where every historical masterpiece spellbinds me. I keep the tab on the table and fill my glass with whisky. It's 11:30 pm. I haven't had my dinner yet. Raghu came to the room a couple of time to remind me and left getting my rebuke. After becoming an alcoholic, I hardly feel any hunger. The doctor said it's the earlier sign of liver damage. I snicker. Who cares? As I was about to touch my lips on the rim of the glass, someone enters my study. Without glancing I bawl out,

"Didn't I tell you I am not hungry? Get lost and leave me alone."

However, instead of Raghu, a female voice counters my rude words,

"I am not concerned about your hunger. Dinner time is already over and you have to have your food. And I am not going anywhere before ensuring that you have your dinner like an obedient brother whether you are hungry or not."

I immediately stare up and meet Navya's glare. She shuttles her angry looks between me and the glass. I bite my lower lips. Shit! Raghu should have informed me that she is coming. I get up from the chair and walk at her. I don't near her too much as she may smell the alcohol.

"You! I didn't know you would come."

I mouth, trying to shift her focus. Navya walks to the sofa and slouches on it.

"Even I didn't know I would catch you red-handed."

Her razor-sharp reply comes. I feel awkward. I know she knows my drinking habit but she has never seen me like this. I again try to change the topic.

"When did you come? Who dropped you? Cabir? But why have come so late? You would have informed me. I would have come earlier."

She arches her brows and retorts,

"Really, Bhai? You would have come earlier? A person whose evening starts at 11 o'clock at night would have sacrificed his work and drink for his sister? Unthinkable!"

Her sarcastic tone provokes my anger. I berate with equal temper,

"Have you come here to give a lecture about my habits? Then please...don't waste your time. I am not interested."

My rebuke halts her for a moment. After a brief silence, she replies,

"No matter how hard you try to hurt me, I won't get hurt because I know you are more hurt than me and I can't see my brother in this pain."

Her voice had something which compels me to see her face minutely. Her eyes are brimming with tears. She is really struggling to control her outburst. Her quivering lips are the proof. I immediately rush at her and sit beside her, taking her hands between mine.

"I am sorry. I don't know why do I lose my temper nowadays? I didn't want to hurt you. It's just that I am tired."

I utter with concern. I can't see tears in her eyes. Navya bends her head and mouths,

"Even I am tired, Bhai. I am tired of seeing you like this. You are destroying yourself. This alcohol (she points at the bottle) will ruin you. Why can't you understand? Whom are you punishing, Bhai? Yourself or me? I can't see you like this. Don't make me feel again and again that I am the reason for your destruction. Please, Bhai...don't do this."

She releases her hands from my hold and palms her face. Her whole body is quivering as she starts crying. I can't control myself and embrace her. She hides her face in my chest and starts sobbing profoundly.

"Why...have you...done this, Bhai? (hiccups)...Why have you...let her go? I...I will never...forget me. (hiccups) I am the...reason...of your...pain...all are...my fault...(hiccups)"

She keeps on blabbering in between her sobs. I fondle her hair and peck her head.

"No. You are not the reason for my pain. I am the reason. I am the reason for her pain. So, I deserve this pain in return. This is my destiny."

I whisper while consoling her. Navya lifts her face from my chest and looks at my eyes.

"No, Bhai. It's not your destiny. My brother is not so weak to surrender to his destiny. I know you hurt her. You broke her trust but there is no sin on this earth that can't be forgiven. We just have to repent and atone with pure hurt. You only got contrite and punished yourself. But have you ever thought about what Nandini wanted? Have you ever asked for forgiveness from her with full conviction? Will she be happy to see you like this? If you really wanted to mend your mistake then you would never let her go. As a girl, I can understand how Nandini would feel when you never tried to hold her back. What do you think? You can make her happy by destroying yourself? No...in fact, you are doing another mistake. You are giving her more pain by this."

Her words stir my heart. Is she telling the truth? Nandini would have stayed if I wanted? If I asked for forgiveness with pure hurt? Unmindfully I mutter,

"What should I do now? She has left me. I don't know where she is. How I ask for forgiveness to her?"

Navya inhales sharply and replies,

"Love can do anything, Bhai. Find her out and bring her back to you. She belongs to you and you belong to her. You are her utmost happiness. Make her happy, forever."

................................................

I stop the car in front of Aryamaan and Soha's house. It's 9 pm and I know I am late. Arya's calls have already disturbed me so many times but I couldn't pick them up. I was not in that mental condition to talk to anybody. I inhale sharply and grip the steering. A slow music piece is coming from the open window of their living room.

"Should I tell them? But what if Soha advises me to tell him about Maan as she forced me after Maan's birth?"

My mind clouds with a dilemma.

"If not Soha then you should tell at least Arya. Come on, you are scared and there should be someone to handle you."

My inner self tries to convince me.

"But he knows nothing about him. Neither he has ever asked me about the father of Maan. How could I abruptly tell him that after so many years I am going to meet him again?"

I didn't have the slightest idea what our CEO is going to discuss in today's meeting. If I had then probably, I wouldn't have attended the meeting.

"Could that have stopped Manik to come here? Would it have stopped him to collaborate with Decoración? You couldn't change the scenario. Not then and not now."

My inner self counters rudely. I bang my tired head on the steering and make the mistake. My car horn honks and makes everybody inside the house alert. Within a minute, Arya comes out holding Maan in his lap. Unwillingly I get out of the car.

"Mummum...mich you...(Mummum..miss you)"

Maan sounds restless and stretches his tiny hands towards me. I take him in my lap. He tightly encircles my neck and hides his head into my tresses. He inhales deeply and makes a tender humming sound,

"Ummmm.."

He is obsessed with the scent of my hair. I fondle his back and softly ask,

"Manu! You were a good boy throughout the day...right?"

He withdraws his head from my shoulder and bobs with a pout. His eyes are moist. Why? He was missing me. But he is used to it. I look at Arya and he purses his lips.

"Cuppycake..why are you sad?"

I ask wiping his soft cheeks and his answer moors me to the ground.

"Papaa.."

He sobs out.

Author's note: How will Nandini handle the situation? Will she tell Manik about Maan? Why Maan is sad? What will be Manik's reaction after seeing Nandini? More drama, more twists are on the way. So, stay tuned.👍😉😉