Hi friends…
First of all, I’m so sorry for the delay… By mistake I lost all my data and without any other option I started this story right from the beginning… And that is the reason for my delay…
And thank you all for your support and comments… Silent readers, thank you for your time…
Keep reading and share your opinions… Good or bad, you’re always welcome…
Let’s get started… Happy reading…
Radhika: Morning sharp five, you will join this young lad (pointing Kittu), DAILY…
Neil: (With confusion filled face.) What for…?
Kittu: (Closing his eyes, breathing in and out.) For this… (And he continued, breath in breath out.)
Neil: (Gave him a puzzled look.)
Kittu: Didn’t understand…?
Neil: (Shook his head no.)
Kittu: (Chuckled.) Welcome to the yoga session, Big Bro… For a peaceful and controlled life…
Neil: (Eyes widened.) NO… (Turned his gaze to Radhika.)
Radhika: (Smiled.) Try me… (Turning to Athu.) And darling, what we do to wake the lazy goose…?
Neil: (Looked at Athu.)
Athu: (Silently chuckled.) A great morning with a bed bath… In precise, cold water bed bath…
Neil: (Averting his gaze to his sister.) You won’t dare to do that, Ra…
Radhika: (Smiling.) Try me, Nikki…
Neil: (Huffed.)
Radhika: Stop being a baby… Now, coming back to the point, what is the other problem…?
Neil: Moved uncomfortably…
Radhika: (Observed her older brother keenly. After few minutes of silence, she stepped close to him and hugged him, around his waist.)
Neil: (Let out a sigh. He gathered her close to his heart.)
They stayed like this for a while.
Neil: (Broke the silence.) She ‘ll be here shortly…
Radhika: (Eyes blurred with her tears. She closed her eyes tight.)
Kittu & Athu: (Shared an eye-lock.)
Kittu: (Thinking.) She is coming here, today, within few hours… Oh God, what is going to happen…? Will she …
His thoughts came to a halt by a squeeze on his hand. He lifted his gaze to find his little twin brother, with a warm smile. It was not just a smile, it was a promise of togetherness, promise of eternity. He smiled at his twin, promising the same.
Both the guys were pulled into a hard chest. They were startled initially, but relaxed when they realized their older brother. They hugged him back, burying themselves completely. Neil was well aware about their inner turmoil.
Neil: (Spoke the word with utmost care and affection.) My little sister and brothers will stay with me forever from now, come what may… Do you trust me…? (He waited for their answer.)
Athu: (Lifting his head from his older brother’s chest, smiled warmly responding positively.)
Neil: (Smiled back. He averted his gaze to Kittu, who has his head still buried in his chest. Cupping his face, he lifted his head alone. He was able to read an unknown fear in his eyes and something that he couldn’t understand. He seem to be too vulnerable.)
Kittu: (Not wanting his brother to be worried, passed him a slight smile.)
Neil: (Gathering him close to his chest, and hugged him tight.) You know, you can always say me anything right…?
Kittu: (Snuggled more into his embrace.)
Neil: (Averted his gaze towards his trust worthy man, his brother.)
Arjun: (Was able to read the helplessness in eyes of the strongest man he had ever met. He couldn’t take that lightly. He wanted to fix things and see the same old Neil Malhotra, The Strongest Man, he met ten years back. His eyes travelled behind Neil and landed on the pair of eyes that took away his sanity. For the first time in life, he felt incapable of doing anything.)
Neil: (Sensed Arjun’s eyes past after him and tilted his head a little to find his sister, standing at a distance. Rolling his eyes thought.) Not again… These two are going off board, now…
Arjun: (His phone buzzed with a message. After reading the message, he looked at Neil and nodded once.)
Neil: (Letting out the long breath.) It’s time to meet her…
His siblings looked at him.
Neil: (Extending his both hands to his siblings.) Shall we…?
Athu: (Got hold of Kittu’s hand and locked his other hand with his older brother.)
Radhika: (Slowly, with hesitating steps, approached her brother’s extended hand.)
Neil: (Tightened his hold on her hand, at once she placed her hand on his extended hand.)
Radhika: (Gave him a nervous smile.)
Sammy: (To lightened the tension.) So, who am I supposed to hold…? (Her eyes travelled from Neil to Arjun and smiled.)
Neil: NO…
Sammy: (Rolling her eyes, locked her hand with Arjun’s hand and was out of the room the next instance.)
Neil: (Huffing.)
Kittu & Athu: (Chuckled.)
Radhika: (Controlling her giggles.) Don’t be ridiculous, Nikki… She is all yours and you know that better…
Neil: (Giving her a bored expression.) Still, I hate other men around her… I’m hell possessive and have zero regrets…
Radhika: But you consider him as your brother…
Neil: (Pinching the tip of his nose, he spoke.) I had seen him sleeping around for years… Not even a single serious relationship… (Throughout, he was keenly looking at his sister’s face and found her face dropping slightly.)
Radhika: (Without looking into his eyes.) True… But, it isn’t necessary that the person doesn’t change at all… (Looking into his eyes.) Didn’t you change…? Even you didn’t get into any serious relationship before Sam, you were just sleeping around… (Averting her gaze.) You guys need someone to get rid of your stress… And you expect the people around you to be clean and clear…
Neil: (Thinking.) You love him… (A smile spread on his face unknowingly.)
Kittu: Phew… Guys, we’re still here… Spare our virgin ears for sake of God…
Athu: (Chuckling.) Drama queen…
Kittu: (Poked his tongue out.)
Neil: So, let’s go…? (He looked at his siblings.)
They nodded affirmative.
They stepped out of the room. Neil had embraced Radhika in his arms. His other hand was holding Kittu, who had his other hand locked with Athu. As they stepped into the hallway of the private area, a tight slap landed on Neil’s face. Neil’s face was averted to his right and his eyes were shut tight. Radhika had her mouth closed with her palm. Kittu and Athu were too shocked to react.
Voice: You failed me, Neil Malhotra…
Neil: (Spoke nothing.)
Voice: You proved you’re no different from your father…
Radhika: (Screamed and was trembling out of anger and pain.) Enough… (She averted her gaze to the person in front of them.) Enough, Mrs. Prerna Malhotra… (Letting out a single mocking laugh.) It is not this son, who failed you… Instead, it is you who failed your son, by losing your trust on him…
Prerna: (Giving Radhika a stern and dirty look.) Oh really…? By the way, would you enlighten me with who you are…?
Radhika: (With a lopsided smile.) I’m the one whom you were never able to love or care… And you’ll never be able to, even in the future…
Neil: (Tried to interrupt.)
Radhika: (Didn’t let him to speak.)
Prerna: (Laughing.) I would kill myself than loving a trash like you… You are a family breaker…
Radhika: (Spoke nothing, she just looked into her eyes unfazed.)
Kittu & Athu: (Were fuming at this point.)
When the twins were about to blast their anger, they were interrupted by,
Radhika: Wish you were able to show this audacity years before, when your so called husband slept around with women… I pity you…
Prerna: (Trembling out of anger and pain.) You… (She tried to attack her.)
Neil: (Embraced Radhika tight in his hold, away from his mother.) Dare you even try to harm her, mother… You’ll see the really monster in me…
Prerna: (Clapping.) Wow… I’m impressed my son… This piece of shit (pointing at Radhika) had the audacity to speak ill about your father and insult your mother, but you stood unfazed… Now, when I want to show her the right place where she actually belong to, you’re standing as a saviour in front of her… God knows what she did to you… (Spoke the last sentence with complete disgust.)
Neil: (Losing the last piece of patience, he spoke dangerously calming.) You want to know what she did to me, mother… Then here you listen… She made me feel precious with her presence… She made me feel alive with her presence… She made me feel complete with her presence… Happy…? Got your answer…? Now, you may leave… (Pulling his siblings along with him, he turned back and walked towards the lift. But stopped mid-way, without turning back.) I’m anything, but your husband… Never ever compare me to him, I may not be able to have my temper under control next time… (Letting out a breath.) Today, you broke me completely, mother… Never wished to see this day… (With stern voice.) And dare you try to touch my family… (He walked off with his siblings.)
Prerna: Family…? (Screamed.) Neil Malhotra, we’re your damn family…
Neil: (Didn’t stop and kept walking.)
Sammy: (Standing in front of Prerna.) Family is with people connected with love and trust, Mom… Not just by blood… (Sternly.) They’re family, MY FAMILY… (She turned and was about to walk off.)
Prerna: You may lose your husband in this rate… She is going to take your husband away from you and make her family… Don’t let that happen, Sam…
Sam: (Turned and facing her straight.) Your mind is corrupted, Mom… That’s why you couldn’t even differentiate between a sibling relationship and extra-marital affair… (She turned to leave, but stopped mid-way and spoke.) One day you feel literally hurt for speaking ill about that beautiful lady… I just hope you could manage yourself from that break down… (Walked off in the same way of her husband.)
Arjun: (Stepping in front of Prerna.) A mother always recognizes her children… But your anger and lack of trust spoiled everything, mother… (Bowing his head down.) Ten years back when your son took me along with him and stepped into your house, you welcomed me with open arms… I felt blessed for the mother’s love you showered on me… But today, you hurt the man whom I consider as my soul-brother, you hurt us, Mother… The lady whom you hurt is one pure soul… She suffered a lot but passed through all the struggles bravely, but your single accusing stare broke her completely today… I’m hurt, Mother… (And walked off.)
Prerna: (Thinking.) You’re in love, son… In love with the lady who is trying to break Sam’s married life… Oh God, how am I going to save my both sons… Who is she…? And the most pathetic thing is Sam, herself supporting this…
Lots of Love,
Anci