Sunday was Aditya’s favorite day of the week. Not only did he not have to go to school, but his older brothers stayed at home. Sundays meant precious family time. Endless walks on the beach, mouth watering lunches, chess matches with his Bhabhi, and the cherry on thrilling bike rides with his Bhaiyu. However, on that particular Sunday, he found himself unexpectedly overwhelmed with sadness.
His Big-B had to go on a school trip. His Bhaiya was out of town for a business meeting and took his Bhabhi along. They wanted Aditya to come along, but he didn't have the heart to intrude on their privacy.
In the end he was stuck at home alone. His Bhaiya Bhabhi would return by the evening. They had even made dinner plans for the night, but Aditya had the whole day at his disposal and he did not know what to do with the time in his hand.
He came downstairs for breakfast and caught sight of Anirudh at the table, engrossed in the morning paper. A big smile bloomed on Aditya's face. His Bhaiyu was always trapped in his studio. He didn't think he would come out anytime soon, especially with his Bhaiya not around to pull him out.
“Good morning, Bhaiyu.” Aditya grabbed the paper from Anirudh's hands. Anirudh glared at him. Abhi shook his head. He was immune to his Bhaiyu’s glares by now.
“I wished you 'good morning'.”
“I was reading a paper, Aditya.”
“I know Bhaiyu, but I greeted you. Be courteous and greet me in return."
“Don’t annoy me so early in the morning, Aditya. Have your breakfast and go back to your room. I have a lot of work.”
“On a Sunday?” Aditya was surprised by the information.
“Yes, on a Sunday. Did you forget that I do not have a nine-to-seven job?”
Aditya rolled his eyes. No one in their home had a nine-to-seven job. He was used to their schedules, that was the reason Sundays were special. The Oberois rarely worked on Sundays. His Bhabhi made sure of that. That Sunday was a rare exception.
“Stop being mean, Bhaiyu. Aaj ghar pe koi nehi hai, Sirf aap aur main hai. Ek din break le lo na. (No one is at home. It's only you and me. Take a day off.) Please”
“I have work, Adi….”
“You always have work,” Aditya shook his head, “Itna kya kaam karte ho aap? Le lo ek din break, kuch nahi hoga. (Why do you have to work so much? What will happen if you take a day off?) ”
“I need to deliver a statue to a client….”
“Itna kya kaam karte ho aap? Le lo ek din break, kuch nahi hoga? (And if you don't deliver, the world will end?)”
“Enough, Aditya. Stop this nonsense now. I have work. Tu bacha nahi hai, jo samajh na sake. (You are not a child, you can understand the situation well.) Eat your breakfast in silence.”
"Bhaiya, dekho bhaiyu daat rahe hain." (Bhaiya, Bhaiyu is scolding me.)” Aditya whined out of habit, realized his mistake immediately and fell silent. His face lost the smile.
Anirudh sighed, the boy was so used to having Arnav and Priya around that it was not easy for him to accept their absence.
“Bhaiya sham tak aa jayenge, Adi. (Bhaiya will be back by evening, Adi.)” Anirudh gently said, “Why don’t you call him. I am sure he will take your call…”
“He is in a meeting, Bhaiyu.” Aditya rose. His appetite suddenly disappeared.“He will call me back when he is free.”
Aditya walked away before Anirudh could stop him. Anirudh looked at his untouched plate of food and sighed. The boy would skip meals whenever he felt upset. A habit that often got him into trouble, but the boy never learned.
The maid got Anirudh’s French toast, but Anirudh could not eat. Not when Aditya was hungry. He knew Aditya did not enjoy the French toast or the omelet that was served as breakfast. He loved parathas. Priya made sure that Aditya had aloo parathas everyday. When she could not make them for him, Arnav did it. The boy was pampered to no end.
Anirudh shook his head and made his way to the kitchen. The cook was already preparing lunch. One look at the prep and Anirudh knew Aditya would not eat lunch as well.
"Didn't Bhabhi tell you what to prepare?" He glared at the cook.
The cook looked at him worried. He was a temporary staff member. Their old cook was on leave. He had no idea what to cook, so he was preparing what he thought was best.
“When did you join?” Anirudh frowned. He did not remember seeing him around.
“This morning. I came in to fill in for Jignesh, Sir. I will make whatever you want me to” He spoke politely.
“It’s okay. I will prepare the meal. Cut the chicken and marinate it for me. Give me a little space, I need to prepare breakfast.”
"Was it not to your liking, sir?" The Cook asked nervously.
"Nawab Sahab prefers parathas for breakfast. Jignesh would have known it, but it’s fine. I know the way Adi likes his parathas. I will make them. You prepare the chicken biryani. Make sure the spice is medium. The boy cannot stomach too much spice.”
The cook nodded his head, “And what about you sir. What will you have?”
“The biryani should be enough for both of us. Make the kheer if you can. Adi loves it.”
The cook smiled and nodded his head, "Bohot pyar karte ho aap apne chhote bhai se? (You love your brother very much.) The boy is very lucky to have such a loving brother”
Anirudh looked away. He was not doing it for Aditya, he told himself. He was doing it for his Bhaiya. Aditya was his brother's responsibility, which made him his responsibility as well. He couldn't allow the boy to go hungry.
He quickly made the parathas and plated them. He made sure he made the chutney that Aditya loved. He wanted the boy to eat. Once done, Anirudh called over a maid and handed her the food tray with a juice glass.
“Give this to Aditya sir.” He instructed her, “make sure he eats.”
The maid nodded her head in agreement and left. Anirudh walked back to the dining table to have his breakfast. It was not his lucky day, because the maid came back almost immediately with the food tray.
“What happened?” Anirudh frowned.
“Aditya is refusing to open the door. He is saying he is not hungry.”
Anirudh shook his head. The boy could be very stubborn when he chose to. He took the plate from the maid and made his way to Aditya’s room. He could hear the sad music floating through the house. The boy’s music always reflected his moods and he was not happy.
Anirudh retrieved the master key from his pocket and easily unlocked the door. He knew Aditya like the back of his hand; he was well aware that the boy would not open the door for him.
Aditya looked startled.
"Breakfast kyun nahi kiya?" Why didn't you have breakfast?" Anirudh ignored Aditya's surprise and set the food tray down. Aditya looked away.
“You know the rules Adi, no skipped meals. Do you want a punishment?”
“Are you going to punish me, Bahiyu?” Aditya sounded disheartened.
“No I won’t, but Bhaiya will not let this go….”
"Are you going to tell on me?" He sounded even sadder.
“Well he is going to call and ask the maids about you. Do you think they will cover for you?”
Aditya looked disheartened.
“Come on, eat. Don’t buy yourself trouble.”
Aditya shook his head. He always looked forward to Sundays. Now his weekend was completely spoiled. He had nothing to do and that made him even more unhappy.
"Adi, mere upar gussa kyun dikha raha hai? Kaha ke gussa kar le. (You are upset with me, Adi. Why are you taking it out on food?"
"Toh aapko pata hai ke main aapse gussa hoon? (So you know that I am mad at you?)" Aditya bit his lip and looked at him from the corner of his eyes.
Anirudh sat down and uncovered the breakfast plate. He knew every little thing about Aditya. That was the main problem. He could not keep his distance from the boy, even when he was trying his best and that made him restless.
Aditya saw the parathas and gasped, "Paratha, lekin breakfast pe to French toast bana tha na? (Wasn't it French toast for breakfast?)"
"Haan, lekin ab paratha bana hai. Khale. (Yes, but now it's paratha. Have it.)" Anirudh handed him the plate.
"Aapne banaya? (Did you prepare it?)" Aditya’s face boomed with a smile.
“EAT!” Anirudh’s voice came out sharper than he intended. He hated himself for falling weak. He felt frustrated for being unable to keep his distance from the boy who had made his mother unhappy. He had given his word to his mother that he would never accept the boy, yet there he was, preparing the boy's favorite meal. He felt utterly pathetic.
Aditya’s eyes filled up. He was unaccustomed to his brothers' raised voices. Everyone was always gentle with him. When Arnav was around, Anirudh’s harshness was easy to handle. He trusted his Bhaiya to keep his Bhaiyu in check, now his Bhaiya was not there and Aditya felt like a lost child. Again!
Anirudh saw the sheen of tears and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "
"Isme rone wale kya baat ho gayi, Aditya? (Why are you upset, Aditya?)"
Aditya looked away upset.
“Aditya….”
“Do you need to scold me for everything, Bhaiyu?” Aditya’s voice was heavy with sadness. “What did I do to….” His voice closed off. He wanted to ask what did he do to deserve his anger, but he knew exactly what he did. He destroyed a happy family. He was the reason for Late Mrs Oberoi’s miseries. He was paying for his father's sins. He would always pay for being the illegitimate child.
“You did not do anything, Adi.” Anirudh corrected him immediately. He did not want the boy taking guilt trips. The fault lay at his door, not Aditya’s. He couldn't punish Aditya for his own shortcomings, and for the first time he realized that he was being hypocritical.
“It’s me. I was not in a good mood and took it out on you.”
Aditya did not buy it. They both knew the truth.
“I am sorry I yelled at you without reason.” Anirudh lifted Aditya’s chin-up gently, “It was not your fault. You need to believe me on this, Adi”
Aditya nodded his head dully. Anirudh glanced at the untouched food plate and knew Aditya would not eat when he was upset. He tore a morsel and offered it to him. "Khane pe gussa nahi karte, chal muh khol. (You should never insult food.)"
Aditya shook his head.
“I already apologized, Adi. What more do you want?”
Silence was the answer.
“Okay, I will take the day off and spend it with you. We can go on a ride”
Aditya looked at him suspiciously. He could not be sure he was not bluffing.
“Sache? (Is it true?)”
“If you finish your breakfast without a fuss, I will take you out.”
“Par aap to busy the na? (But you were busy.)” Adiya countered.
“Do you want to go on the ride, or not?”
Aditya huffed, he did not understand why the man could not straight out say that he loved him. He cared enough to set his work aside, to make him happy, but he could not accept it to his face. For once Aditya was not in a mood to be plicated. He was missing Arnav, and his big-b. He needed to feel loved and not tolerated.
"Nahi jana. (I don't want to go)." Aditya pushed the morsel away, “go do your work. I will eat when I feel hungry”
"Maar khana hai tujhe? (Are you rooting for a punishment?)"
"Haath apno pe uthaya jata hai, Bhaiyu. Main to paraya hoon na? (We have the right to correct the mistakes of our loved ones, Bhaiyu. I am not your brother. Correct?)" Anirudh stiffened.
"Ek paraye ladke ke liye aap itna sab kyun kar rahe ho? (Why are you so bothered about a boy who means nothing to you?) Let me go hungry. Why should you care?”
Anirudh did not have to care, but the problem was he could not stop caring.
“Fine, I will call Bhaiya. He will know how to handle you.”
“Bhaiya’s meeting will end at 2 in the afternoon. He will not take your calls.”
“You will still be in trouble”
“That is my problem, Bhaiyu. Not yours.” Aditya rose and turned to leave the room, but Anirudh held his hand and motioned for him to sit back.
"Bohot ho gaya tera, muh khol chup chap aur kha. (Stop being stubborn and have your breakfast.)"
Aditya shook his head stubbornly.
“Aditya.” Anirudh warned.
"Maroge tab bhi nahi kahunga.(I won't eat even if you force me.)”
Anirudh prayed for patience. He did not understand how his brother mustered the patience to handle the brat. He was already having a tough time controlling his frustration.
“What do you want, Adi.” Anirudh compromised. He knew it was better to compromise than fight. He wanted Aditya to eat. That was his only priority.
"Thoda pyar se baat karo aap. Bhaiya aur Big-B dono nahi hain yahaan. Mujhe bilkul achha nahi lag raha, Bhaiyu." (Be nice to be, Bhaiyu. I am missing Bhaiya and Bhaiyu. I feel sad.)” Aditya’s voice became tense with tears. Anirudh immediately pulled him into his arms.
“Bhiaya will be back by evening bacha, Ayu will be back in a day. You know they must be missing you too.”
Adi bobbed his head but buried his face into Anirudh’s neck. He needed to feel safe and Anirudh always made him feel protected.
“If you want to talk to Bhaiya I can arrange for the call, Adi….”
Adi shook his head. He did not wish to disturb his Bhaiya. He was a little upset, nothing which cannot be set right with love and Anirudh had enough to give.
"Sach mein bahar le jaoge mujhe? (Will you take me out?)” Aditya bargained.
“Yes. Adi. We can go out wherever you want.” Anirudh caressed his hair gently. He hated seeing the long face.
“Will you take me to the hilltop?”
Anirudh agreed immediately.
“On a bike?”
Anirudh hesitated.
“You won’t?” Aditya gave him the puppy eyes. He was no longer upset. Anirudh called him bacha and was holding on to him. That made his day. He was willing to endure a thousand scoldings just to receive that one warm embrace.
Anirudh had no defense against the puppy eyes. He gave up with a sigh. “I will talk to Rudy and arrange for the security.”
“Yes!” Aditya jumped up and down, unable to contain his excitement, “You are the best, Bhaiyu.”
He hugged him tight.
“Chal, bohot hua maska. Ab kha. (You have buttered me enough now to eat.)” Anirudh put the plate back in Aditya's hand. The boy simply shook his head.
“Ab kya? (Now what?)” Anirudh glared at him.
“Khila do na. (Feed me.) Please.”
“Kyun tere haathon mein dard hai? (Is your hand injured?)”
This is soo heartwarming 🥺
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DeleteLooking forward for more adi and Anirudh scene
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