"Rajeev Thakur masked his youngest son's existence. Not only from us but from the entire world... Why?"

"I think... May be he was ashamed. Agasthya is his illegitimate son, so..."
Aaryan replied. He felt a pain when he uttered the word 'illegitimate'.

"May be Aaryan... But..."

"Ani... Once Agasthya told me that he never went to school. Father arranged special tutors for him... "

Anirudh sighed.
"This seems really weird..."

Aaryan sat near to Anirudh.

"Anirudh... Tell me each and everything Agasthya told you... "

Anirudh glared Aaryan. He was very serious.

"Umm... He was narrating the murder actually... I mean..."

But Aaryan cut his brother in middle.

"Not about the murder Ani... Did he give you any hind about his relationship with his papa?"

Anirudh scratched his forehead while recalling Agasthya's words.

"I think he was his papa's, I mean our father's pet... His nickname was August"

"August... Nice..." Smiled Aaryan. "Then?"

"Then... Oh yes, he told me that father visited him on weekends... It was the only chance for him to see the outer world. "

"Visit? " Aaryan frowned.

"Aary... Agasthya wasn't living with him for last 10 years. Rajeev Thakur shifted to another house and refused to take Agasthya with him..."

"Oh my God..." Aaryan gasped. "You mean he was living alone?"

"Yes..."

Aaryan's eyes became wet with tears.
"Poor Agasthya..."

Anirudh smiled sadly.

Suddenly Aaryan turned his head to face Anirudh's eyes.

"Ani... I think Papa was familiar with this danger... He was sure that one day he has to face it... That is why he distant him self from Agasthya."

Anirudh closed his eyes. He was shocked.
"That makes sense Aary..."

"He wished to keep Agasthya safe... So he hid his son from others... And he tried to call you before his death to make you aware about Agasthya..."

Anirudh clunched his arms.

The picture is more clear now...

"Simran Malhotra came to know about Agasthya's existence by meeting him at the airport and now he became her target..." Aaryan concluded.

"I agree with you Aary... But..."

"What is the need of that word 'but' Ani? I am sure... She is the one behind this all... She tried to kill Agasthya and also killed Prakash uncle."

Anirudh side hugged his angry brother.

"Don't jump into conclusions... I feel there is something more..."

Aaryan narrowed his eyes. Anirudh's calmness and doubting behavior irritated him.

"Anyway... Once she succeeded in troubling Agasthya, but I won't let her do it again..." Aaryan murmured.

Anirudh held his brother's hands with an ensuring nod.

"Not I Aaryan but we... We will be there for him..."

*******************

"Is he sleeping?"

Asked Anirudh in his mind after entering in Agasthya's room.

The lights were off so he decided to return with out making any disturbance, but stopped by the sound of a whimper.

Anirudh slowly removed the blanket from Agasthya's face.

Agasthya startled by his brother's sudden entry and wiped his tears.

"Why did you cry?"

Agasthya smiled at Anirudh shaking his head in disagreement.

"I wasn't crying... Why should I cry now?"

Anirudh sighed.
"You are a bad liar Agasthya... You can't fool people..."

Agasthya didn't reply but smiled again.

Anirudh sat on the bed and ruffled Agasthya's hair affectionately.

"I know I had hurt you several times... I know I am not worthy for your forgiveness... But, I am sorry Agasthya... I didn't do anything intentionally..."

"Please don't apologize... You did it all for my safety... I can understand..."

"Agasthya... Sometimes you seems very childish but sometimes you are very matured..."

Both of them shared a hearty laugh on Anirudh's remark.

"I am a bit weird... Aren't I?"

"Of caurse you are..."

"Papa used to say the same... 'Of caurse you are'..."

Anirudh faked a smile. Agasthya always reached at their father at the end of every conversations. First Anirudh hated that but now he regretted.

'He was the only one in this world who loved Agasthya '

"Ani bha..." Agasthya began to address Anirudh as 'bhaiya' but controlled himself.

Anirudh gasped.

"I am sorry... I won't repeat..."

With heavy breaths Anirudh cupped Agasthya's face. He wished to hear that once more... He felt a happiness just like a father listening to his son calling him 'papa' for the first time...

Agasthya gulped. He thought Anirudh was angry.

"Happened by mistake, Ani..."

"Won't you call me bhaiya?"

"What?" Agasthya couldn't believe what he heard.

"Agasthya... Please... Repeat once more... Call me bhaiya... Please..."

Anirudh invited Agasthya for an embrace.

"Am I dreaming?" Agasthya whispered.

Anirudh broke the hug. "No..."

Agasthya was still trapped in that sudden shock. He was familiar with Anirudh's anger and hate but never with his brotherly emotions. He couldn't read what is running in his own mind.

Agasthya's heart was filled with all emotions. There were joy, pain, trust, confusion,shock... Everything...

Tears started to roll through Anirudh's face.

"Call me bhaiya... My August..."

Agasthya fell into Anirudh's arms with a loud cry.

"Bhaiya... Ani bhaiya..."

It was the most precious moment in Agasthya's life. He got his big brother.

They sat crying and hugging for almost ten minutes.

"I love you August... You are my baby brother..."

Agasthya smiled resting his head on Anirudh's shoulder.

"Thank you bhaiya... Thank you for accepting me..."

Anirudh kissed on his messy hair. His delight was beyond explanation. Only after that hug Anirudh realized that how much he loved Agasthya. After hearing the word 'bhaiya' from him, he felt that love multiplying into a thousand times. Anirudh was sure that he couldn't differentiate between Aaryan and Agasthya anymore.

Anirudh wiped Agasthya's tears.

"I don't want my brother to sit sad and teary... I need that chirpy August, who can light up my world with his single smile..."

Agasthya giggled. "Chirpy August is sleepy now..."

"His brother is also sleepy... Come lets go to my room..." Anirudh said with a naughty grin. "It is neat and well arranged than yours..."

"Bhaiya!"

******************

Aaryan smiled at his brothers standing at the door of Anirudh's room.

"Mr. Aaryan Thakur... Do you need a special invitation?" Anirudh raised his eyebrows dramatically.

Aaryan came forward and laid at one end of the bed allowing Agasthya to be at their middle.

"He slept already!"

"Yes..." Anirudh said.

They both looked at each other. They couldn't believe the change happened to their life after Agasthya's arrival.

"I still feel this like a dream, Ani..."

"My state is not different Aaryan... He forgave me... I love him now just like how I love you..."

Aaryan smiled. "I know... I was sure that you will accept him..."

"I can't understand his mind Aary... How could he call me bhaiya... Especially after throwing his most precious memories away like a waste thing."

Aaryan sighed. "I know you are guilty for throwing those pictures away with his mobile. But Agasthya won't need them if you stand with him..."

"Aaryan..."

"You can... Only you can replace our father in his life Ani... Only you can make that broken, motherless child happy..."

Anirudh couldn't hold his tears.

"You are the best brother, Ani... Who know it better than me? You became my father... You cared me like your own son... You are more than a brother for me..."

"Thank you Aary... Thank you..."

"Love him just like you love me... That is enough... Nothing else is needed..."

Aaryan's long hair touched on Agasthya's nose making him sniff during the sleep.

Both his brothers broke into a laugh.

"Tie your hair Aary... I can't allow you to disturb my August's sleep... "

Aaryan faked an angry face.

"Not yours my dear Anirudh... Our August..."

"Oh sorry..." Anirudh corrected his statement.

"Our August..."