Epiphany

The Planning

It is almost after midnight and Kabir is pouring his third cup of coffee. Two weeks since he knows about Aakrith's truth. Two weeks since he knows about Raghav's betrayal. Two weeks since he is trying to live with the fact that his brother had sacrificed his own life to save him.

No, don't go there. Kabir reminds himself. He has promised his brother not to feel guilty.

The black coffee burns his throat as he takes a sip from the mug. The hot, bitter taste of coffee makes his eyes water. Or maybe, it is not the hot coffee, it is the bitter truth that is making his eyes water. Kabir is perhaps refusing to accept the tears.

It is hard for him to keep up with his promise. How can you move on when every single day reminds him of his brother's sacrifice? But Kabir is trying. It is easier to make a promise but to keep the promise, that is the toughest part. 

Kabir is about to take another sip when Aakrith enters and snatches the mug from Kabir's hands. "Baba, did you look at time? Yeh koi time hai coffee pi ne ka?"

"Why are you still awake?" Kabir asks him, lifting his eyes from his laptop screen.

"Why are you still awake, baba?" Aakrith asks him instead.

"You know why, Aakrith. I need to find Naveen." Kabir answers, looking at Aakrith.

After Raghav was gone, the very next day, Kabir had sent his team to Naveen's house, only to find it empty. The man was gone already. And from that day, the team has been searching for this man. Naveen wants Aakrith, but why? Kabir had even questioned Aakrith if he had ever seen this guy interacting with those men who took him but Aakrith had never heard about this guy.  

Placing the coffee mug on the table, Aakrith takes a seat beside Kabir. "I think he is spooked. He knows we are after him so he will stay low for a while."

"Well, I don't care. I will still keep looking for him." Kabir says, determined.

"You might not care, but I do." Aakrith says softly. He watches how Kabir goes still for a second before continuing with his search. He knows Kabir's stubbornness, his brother will not rest till he gets his hands on Naveen. Well, Aakrith is equally stubborn. He won't let his brother get sick because of this.

Aakrith closes the laptop and snatches it away from Kabir's lap and Kabir groans loudly.

"Aakrith, kya kar raha hai. Laptop kyu le liya. You can see I'm working here, right. "

"Haan, dikh raha hai." Aakrith replies. "But aapne apni halat dekhi hai, baba? Have you noticed those dark circles under your eyes? Ekdum zombie lag rahe hai aap."

"Jaisa bhi lagu. I don't have time for that. Give me my laptop." Kabir says demandingly and Aakrith shakes his head.

"Nai dunga."

Kabir only scowls at Aakrith's reply. "Aakrith, don't argue with me. Hand me the laptop."

Again, Aakrith shakes his head. "Bola na, nai dunga. All you need is sleep. Not this laptop, which, by the way, is not good for your eyes, at this time."

"Aakrith, you don't understand..." Kabir begins but Aakrith cuts him off.

"But baba, you don't understand. Tomorrow, if you go to the agency looking like this, the security system won't even recognize your face." Aakrith says with a laugh and Kabir glares at him.

"My face is not looking that bad, okay." Kabir stifles a yawn. He just had his third cup of coffee. How is he still feeling sleepy? "Just give me the laptop, Aakrith."

"Yaar, baba." Aakrith says, whining. "Kabse laptop, laptop, laptop kar rahe hai aap. Itna pasand hai aapko laptop?"

Aakrith, now, rests his head on Kabir's lap and looks up at him. "That laptop has been here, on your lap, for so many days. Now, it is my turn and I won't get up."