Rooh (Book 2 - Singhania Brothers)

Part 9 : Fun and assurances

For two days, Aryan refused to leave Arnav's side. He would latch himself to Arnav as soon as he came back from office and follow him all around the house without a break. Arnav had been so close to lashing out to him several times but Aniket had played the saviour and saved the kid from their elder brother's wrath.

Aniket saw Aryan descending the stairs, jumping down the stairs more precisely, and felt like bashing his own head to the non existent wall. If Arnav would have so much seen the boy out of his room, he would blow a gasket.

"Bhaiyuuu!!!" Aryan jumped down the last stair and rushed to hug Aniket.

With his heartbeats halted for a second, Aniket whacked Aryan on the shoulders. Aryan didn't even look up. He was so used to to all the scoldings and whacks from his elder brothers all the time to even get bothered about them.

"Insaan ki tarah nhi chal sakta, Aru? Gir jata toh..."

"Mat daanto na!" Aryan looked up with a pout. "Hitler already itna daant rhe hai do din se!"

"Teri harkat hi daant khane wali hai." Aniket glared at him. "Iss baar Mai bachane bhi nhi aaunga dekhna.."

"Woh toh aap aaoge hi, Bhaiyu!" Aryan drawled. Both of them knew Aniket was giving out empty threats.

"Achcha, bachchu? Abhi dekh tu..." Aniket stopped when Aryan hugged him again, burying his face in his midriff. "Gussa mat ho, Bhaiyu! Aap toh best ho! Sabse best!"

Aniket raised his brow at his younger brother who was trying to be so charming with him. The boy was using his spells back at him.

"Mai aapka sabse pyaara chhota bhai hoon na, Bhaiyu?"

"Kya chahiye tujhe?" Aniket asked, an amused smile forming on his face.

"Bhaiya ne pure month ke liye ground kar diya!" Aryan spilled it out. "Woh bhi without internet privileges."

"Good. That should just set your brain right!" Ayaansh said, walking inside the house. He was just back from his music classes.

Aryan started at him in shock and offense. His Bhai was supposed to side with him, to be biased towards him, not the Hitler.

"Aise mat ghoor." Ayaansh whacked him. "Ekdam sahi Kiya hai Bhaiya ne. Height dekhi nhi apni aur chala tha drive karne!"

"Aap Bhaiya ke jaise Hitler kyun ban rhe ho...." Aryan glared at him adorably, his cheeks puffed up in offense.

"Hitler, Aru?" Ayaansh whacked him again. "Tu aise stupid banega, toh Bhaiya ko Hitler banna padega na? You should be resting, should you not?"

Aryan pouted, as he rubbed his shoulders. "Kitna rest Karu? Thak gya mai rest karke!"

"Thakne ke baad rest hi karte hai!" Ayaansh rolled his eyes.

"Bachche par thodi toh Reham Karo!" Aryan wailed dramatically.

"Bhaiya ne dekh liya na tujhe uchhalte kudte toh tujhe room me lock kar denge, samjha? Phir unse kehna yahi baat." Ayaansh said drily.

Aryan paled. He knew Ayaansh was right. Arnav would do just that.

The interaction brought a delighted smile on Aniket's face. It was the first time he was seeing Ayaansh exerting his rights as an elder brother. Ayaansh had always looked out for Aru but Aniket had never seen him playing the big brother. The change in their dynamics warmed his heart.

He came out of his thoughts and shifted his attention to Aryan who was tugging his hand. "Kya hua?"

"Aap bologe nhi kuch? Dekho Bhai ko kaise Bhaiya ki tarah Hitlergiri dikha rhe hai.." Aryan complained.