Part 15

Next day morning when alarm rang at 5.30, Aman, Anjali and Arnav woke up with much excitement..., both Aman and Arnav started their day with their jog, and Anjali started her day with pooja. She prayed to her goddess for everyone's wellbeing. She particularly prayed for her Chote and Khushi. Later she prepared breakfast for her siblings and Aman with the help of maids.

On the other side, Khushi woke up at 7 in the morning by high pitched voice of Lavanya. She jerked up and got down from the bed in a moment. Lavanya is shouting at her for getting late to the college. When Khushi heard the word college, remembered her last day with her Lad Governor. Her I love you to him. She wants to see him. She wants to meet him. She came back by hearing Lavanya's voice again and ran to bathroom to get ready to college, actually to her love. After getting ready to college, both Khushi and Lavanya had their breakfast and left for college.

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After finishing their jog, both Arnav and Aman got freshen up and came to breakfast table. When Aman and Anjali came face to face, so many feelings ran through their hearts. But as their per decision, they controlled their emotions in front of three naughty brothers.

When they sat on the table, Akash and NK got surprised to see their brother in very happy mood. Akash and NK looked at each other seeing their brother smiling.

"Bhai are you ok...?" asked Akash. By hearing this question, everybody looked at Arnav then Akash and again Arnav.

"Of course I'm fine... why did you ask like that? What made you think that I'm not fine?" said Arnav while continuing his smile.

"That's only... you are smiling Bhai... it is really weird. I never saw you smiling in these years. What happened these days? I'm observing you since last week, you are getting lost in your thoughts... and you are smiling like a teenage boy... what's wrong with you?" said Akash.

NK: "Exactly Bhai... I agree with Akash. What happened to you...? Did you bite any dog?"

Anjali and Aman: "WHAT!!!!"

Arnav: "What the...!!! NK watch your tongue..." Arnav gritted his teeth

Noticing his brother's angry face, NK said with a foolish expression "Sorry...I mean any dog bit you... you know crazy dog..."

"NK... how many times I told you to behave yourself? Is this the way to talk with your elder brother? When will you learn NK?" said irritated Anjali.

"Leave it Anjali; we all know about NK... why are you scolding him like that...? He will learn in future..." said Aman to Anjali and turns to NK and asks him "Am I right NK? Anyway why are you doing this to Arnav? And why don't you talk decently with him?"

NK's expression changed into serious... he turned to Aman and says: "I like my brother Aman Bhai. This is the reason I irritates him.

All: "What?!!!"

NK: "Yeah, I like my brother, in fact I love him. But he never likes me. Every time he will be with either Di or Akash or you. But he never bothered about me. I think he never considered me as his brother. I never remember the time I spent with him in my childhood. He never wants to play with me then or now. Every time I used to see him while playing, or fighting with Akash Bhai. I even saw him scolding Akash Bhai. Then once I asked Anjali Di about his scolding to Akash Bhai and their fights. Then Di said... 'NK... Arnav likes Akash very much. So, he takes care of him. He doesn't want Akash to do any mistake. Arnav Bhai thinks that he is elder, if he scolds Akash he will be in right path.' Then I got to know, that if Arnav Bhai is scolding anyone means he likes them very much. He takes care for them. So, I started to irritate him. So that he will scold me. Of course, I succeeded in that... whenever I'm irritating him, he is scolding me. At least with that I can feel like he likes me, he will consider me as his brother... He is taking care of me. So, I'm doing this." Then he turns to Anjali and said "Di, I know how to behave with elders. I know how to deal with the situations. Do you know how? Whatever I knew, I learnt it by observing my elder brother. I'm a brilliant student, naughty teenager, friendly, romantic, and most importantly a good human being – all these qualities I learnt from my elder brother. Whatever I'm today is because of him. I love him Di."

Everybody got shocked by hearing NK's words. They never expected NK to feel like this. Most importantly for Arnav this is the big shock. He never thought that age gap of 5 years between him and his baby brother, will make the situations this hard. Actually he never thought to avoid NK neither in childhood or now. He still remembers the time when NK was born. He is the one very much happy for his baby brother. He wants to take care of his baby brother, as same as Akash. But when Anjali started to take care of him he never thought he has to take care. Because he trusts his Di more than himself. But still he used to question his sister and mother about NK's wellbeing. Once they said they will take care of him. There is no need to worry about NK for him. So, he concentrated more on Akash. But he never thought this will turn up NK to think like this. This is like big blow to him.

On the other side, Anjali also shocked like anything. Anjali had tears in her eyes. She still remembers the face of 8-year-old NK asking about his elder brother's behaviour. On that time, she didn't give any thought that why he was asking. But now she got to know the reason for that. She always took care of him as a mother. She never thought he will think like unwanted. Akash also very much shocked to know this inner turmoil of his younger brother. He never thought his relationship with his elder brother will bother his younger one. He still remembers his younger brother asking him the permission to play with him and their elder brother. But he never agreed to that. Because, that time he thought that NK is very small to play with them. He thought he might get hurt. He cursed himself for this. Aman also equally shocked like others. He never expected naughty NK will think like this. He still remembers the child NK, who was used to play with his baby sister Lavanya. He still remembers how NK used to get angry, if anybody says something about Arnav. He thought its natural between brothers. But he never thought that things will turn up like this. Immediately he went to NK along with others. But Arnav is first one to reach NK.

When NK watched Arnav coming to him, he also stood up from the chair. But, what happened next he never expected. He is very much shocked, surprised and sad, when he felt his cheek is burning with a tight slap from Arnav. Arnav, after giving the slap to NK, hugged him as much tightly as he can. While tears are running from his cheeks he said, "I'm sorry NK... I'm really sorry. But believe me I'm not the person you think. How can you think that I don't take care of you? You know, I love you more than Akash. You are my baby brother. Nobody can take your place in my heart. Your were, you are, and you will be special for Me." He broke the hug and made him sat on the chair and continued by holding NK's hands in his "I concentrated on Akash because Di and amma used to take care of you. They said to me to take care of Akash. But do you know after that also I used to irritate them by asking about you? Didn't you remember the toys which I used to buy in our holiday trips? Didn't you remember the things which I bought for you when ever I went to excursions? I know NK; you didn't remember any of these. I know. But please don't you never ever think like that again. You are the best brother in the whole world. I want to ask you one question NK. Will you answer me?"

NK: "Sure Bhai... just ask me..."

Arnav: "Do you know why I slapped you now?"

NK nodded his head negatively. Arnav smiled at his teenage brother and said "you are thinking in wrong way... I don't want my baby brother to think or do anything in wrong manner. I love you so much. That's why I slapped you." He left NK's hands and cupped his cheeks and asked again "Do you know how much I love you?" NK again nodded his head negatively and got the shock of his life

"This much..." said Arnav while kissing his baby brother's forehead. Aman, Anjali and Akash, who are watching this gasped in shock. NK, who is experiencing the first kiss of Arnav Singh Raizada, is dumbfounded. He is unable to think, talk and move. He left motionless for this gesture of his elder brother. "Never ever think that I don't care about you. Never ever think that I don't consider you as my brother. You are one of the most important persons of my life. You are my baby brother. Once again I'm really sorry NK. I know I'm at fault. But I promise it won't happen again. I'm really sor...."

He never completed that word 'sorry', actually NK never let him complete that. NK can't see his elder brother saying sorry to anybody. In fact, he never saw until now. He can't accept his elder brother at fault. He hugged his brother and said "Please Bhai. Don't say sorry. I can't see you at fault. You are the best brother in the world. Please... don't say that you are at fault. You are never at fault Bhai. Please don't say that again." NK cried his heart out... he let out all his agony and pain suffered all his life till now. Anjali who is watching all this also cried with her youngest brother. Aman and Akash also had tears in their eyes. They all shared a group hug.

After that emotional time, everybody had their breakfast and left for college. Throughout the journey to their college everyone made sure that NK don't feel alone. Everybody tried their best to bring NK to his normal state. Daily Arnav or Aman will drive the car and other will sit in passenger seat. Anjali, Akash and NK will sit in the back seat. But today, Arnav asked Akash to drive the car, while Aman sat at the passenger seat. And he sat in back seat along with Anjali and NK. He made sure that NK sat in between him and Anjali. He asked so many things to NK. NK shared many things to his elder brother happily. He is the happiest person in the world today. He never thought that Arnav will talk with him like how he wanted him. He felt like he is the luckiest person in the world to get a kiss from ASR. He is overwhelmed with this happiness.

Arnav, who is observing his younger brother, is very much surprised and happy to see NK's happiness. Suddenly he hugged him sideways and said "stay like this always. Don't let this Happiness go from you. And always remember that I'll be there for you. You can share your feelings with me. You can ask anything. And don't think that you are alone. We are family then and now. Ok. You are the apple of our eye. Don't forget that. And last but not least... don't think about doing something wrong. I won't spare you. Do you get that?"

NK is very much happy today, by hearing his brother's words. He nodded his head like he understand what Arnav said and hugged him back. They are happy family...

Soon they reached the college. After getting down the car, Arnav's eyes searched for one girl. But he couldn't find her. He dragged everyone to canteen hoping she will be there. But for his disappointment she is not there. He is frustrated. Anjali and Aman looked at Arnav's state and shared a smile.

"See Anjali someone is eager to meet someone. Did you notice that?" said Aman.

"Yeah Aman, I can see that..." replied Anjali.

But Arnav was in no mood to think about what they are talking and they are targeting him. He is eager to meet her. His love – His Khushi. But he can't find her anywhere. Aman and Anjali observed Arnav's state and understands his eagerness and increasing anger in him. So they kept quiet and postponed their teasing session.

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Khushi entered college with Lavanya. She is in very happy mood today. She wants to meet him. She is eagerly waiting to see him. Her Love – her Lad Governor. When walking into college she saw Arnav going to canteen with others. She is very happy to see him. She heard Lavanya saying "Come Khushi we will go to canteen first and have some coffee then will go to classes. I think Aman Bhai and others didn't come till now. We will wait for them in canteen. Come..."

Suddenly Khushi felt her heart beating hardly. She felt sudden tension in her mind and body... she don't know why she is feeling like that. But she knew that this tension is something to do with that Lad Governor. Actually she wants to meet him, but when Lavanya asked her to come with her, her heart and mind refused to go. She wants to take some time. So, she said "No Lavanya Ji, I can't come to canteen now. I have a work in library. I want to collect some notes for my assignment which given by history sir yesterday. I need to submit that. So, I need to go... may be u go and wait." She knows very well about Lavanya. Lavanya won't go to canteen alone. As she expected Lavanya said: "Oh... ok then we will go to library. I will call Bhai after some time. Actually nothing important is there. Just I want to say to Bhai that I'm fine. Otherwise he will get tensed."

After hearing Khushi left a sigh of relief. She felt good about Aman's care for Lavanya. Immediately she remembered her Bhai. He never let her eyes drop a single tear. He pampered her like anything. She has a sister in between her and her brother. And she has a younger sister also. But she is the dearest one to her brother. She misses him. She made a mental note to call her brother after some time. She remembered the times, she spent with her brother. Those are the wonderful times. But after he got the job in Pune, he went there with his family. She missed him and his family. She thinks that she can go to her brother's house on weekends. She smiled a little bit and left to library...

...to be continued