Namaskaram 🙏

Date of Update: 12.10.2023

*****

"Bhayya!" Laksh entered Sanskar's room that morning.

It's Sunday. Dev returned back a week ago so Ragini went back. Laksh has definitely enjoyed with her those ten days.

Sanskar who is drawing something hid the canvas immediately closing it with the paper. Laksh pouted seeing him hiding.

"You again hid your art from me!" Laksh whined.

"You know I would show only after the completion." Sanskar said smiling.

Laksh nodded huffing.

"Okay tell me what's it?" Sanskar asked.

"Same!" Laksh said.

Sanskar frowned just praying it not to be the one he is thinking it to be.

"Means?" Sanskar asked just to confirm.

"Oh come on bhayya! You know what I came to talk about. Obviously your marriage!" Laksh said with obvious.

"Lucky go out. It's my me time." Sanskar said holding his hand and pulling him out of the room.

Laksh pulled himself away.

"See bhayya just as simple as it is. Answer me straight. Without hiding anything. I will just let you have your me time for whole day!" Laksh said with serious tone.

"I already told you. I am not ready. How many times should I tell you? You are just being stubborn of not getting convinced with what I told you." Sanskar said.

"That is what I am saying I don't want to get convinced bhayya. I want to know the truth!" Laksh said.

"Laksh don't make me angry!" Sanskar said.

"You don't make me angry too bhayya!" Laksh stated back.

"Enough Laksh. Get Out!" Sanskar shouted with a bit raised voice.

"I won't!" Laksh spoke with normal yet stubborn voice.

"Done! You stay. I will only leave!" Sanskar said and about to go out but Laksh held Sanskar's hand tight.

"Just because I don't want to make any emotional blackmail dramas I am not talking. Otherwise I can take thousands of ways to get the truth from you out." Laksh said.

Sanskar just ignored him and kept seeing other way.

"What's your problem bhayya?" Laksh asked concerned.

Sanskar still didn't budge. Laksh sighed and left his hand and Sanskar was about to move out but Laksh himself crossed him and left from there. Sanskar sighed. He rubbed his palm to his face and sat on the bed holding his head.

"It was just ma earlier who used to argue with me regarding this matter now you also Lucky. Just stop arguing with me Lucky! Just stop!" Sanskar whispered to himself.

He moved towards Annapurna's room who is casually watching something on television. He just sat beside her on the bed and kept his head on her lap laying on the bed making her smile. She caressed his head while he closed his eyes.

"What happened Beta?" Annapurna asked.

"Nothing ma." He replied still with closed eyes.

Annapurna just let his lie and kept caressing his hair while he fell asleep there.

Laksh on the other hand sat irritated of his brother. His brother never shares his worries to anybody. He buries everything inside him and just keeps pressuring himself. Laksh already cursed himself a lot for not realising that his brother has been doing this since childhood. He now knows that his brother needs someone who would be beside him always and be his emotional support. Not that he wants to force his brother into marriage. If he could see that his brother is not hiding something and is genuinely not ready for marriage he would have stopped getting this topic long back but it was the other way. That is why he is making all the efforts to get the truth out even if it costs his brother's anger he has to face.

He took his phone and dialled a number.

"We need to talk. Meet me in XYZ cafe in half an hour." He spoke as the call got answered and not letting the other person to even say 'Hello' and also cut the call not letting the person atleast respond to his words.

He immediately rushed out of the house texting Sanskar that he is going out and drove off. He looked around to find the person with whom he is there to meet. He sighed as he spotted the person.

"I need a help!" he said not letting the person speak again anything.

"Will you for once let me speak?" Dev asked annoyed.

"Just tell me will you help me or not Buddy?" Laksh asked.

"As if I have an option. Tell me!" Dev said.

"You need to find out why bhayya is against getting married? He is hiding something." Laksh said.

"Oh! I doubt I could be some help in this matter." Dev said unsure.

"Why? He shares everything with you right?" Laksh asked frowning.

"He doesn't!" Dev said.

Laksh held his head worried.

"Hey Lucky! I will try and help you in this as much as I could. Don't worry!" Dev tried making him feel better.

Laksh just nodded and left from there not even bidding bye to Dev as he knows he would be no help now. Dev rolled his eyes but smiled as he could see how concerned he is about Sanskar.

"I hope he would succeed in this Sanskar. You deserve to be happy!" Dev spoke to himself before leaving from the place.

****

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank You for coming to the Sixty Years Celebrations of 'Maheshwari Companies'! Maheshwari Companies has given life to many families. It has treated every employee that works for it with equal respect. It is a great honour for me to be a part of Maheshwari Companies." Kusum smiled as she welcomed everybody to the sixty years celebration party and gave a small appreciation speech.

Everybody clapped for her small speech.

"So as our very own Maheshwari Companies has reached another milestone of Six decades there is a special announcement from the CEO of our company, Mr. Sanskar Maheshwari which would be announced in few minutes. Till then enjoy the party." Saying Kusum got down the stage.

The party has only the employees and few close business associates. Sanskar is along with Annapurna outside the party hall answering all the questions of media who are trying to get the information about the announcement from both Sanskar and Annapurna. Laksh stays away from such media gatherings intentionally. Sanskar stays quiet since he doesn't want everybody to make his family issues a public issue.

"You will get to know once the announcement is done. Please wait for your time to enter into the party premises. Thank You!" Sanskar said and moved away from there into the Party hall leaving the media behind.

They entered inside the hall and Annapurna rushed to speak to business associates while Sanskar stood back looking into his phone or say checking his texts which were from Laksh and Dev who were asking about how much time it would take for them at media.

He replied that he is coming inside and looked above only to get his eyes landed on the most beautiful girl for him in the whole world. He just stopped breathing for a moment as he grasped how beautiful she looked with that outfit of hers that day. Her face has the beautiful smile while she is communicating with her colleagues.

"Ahem! Ahem! It seems someone is adoring someone openly today." He heard Dev's voice and took off his eyes from her immediately.

Sanskar was about to look at Dev when his eyes widened hearing another voice.

"Who is adoring whom Buddy?" Laksh's voice came from behind.

Dev got shocked with that and looked at Laksh and so did Sanskar.

"Whom are you talking about Buddy?" Laksh asked seeing him not answering.

"Arey nobody Lucky. It's just some nuisance old college stuff we were talking." Dev tried covering whatever came in his mind though it did not even a bit looked relevant to that situation.

Sanskar tried hard not to grit his teeth at Dev but looked at Laksh.

"Lucky what are you wearing? Didn't I ask you to wear a coat?" Sanskar diverted the topic.

"Bhayya this is also looking formal!" Laksh reasoned.

"No! Go wear what I have asked you to wear. NOW!" Sanskar said strictly.

Laksh nodded and left making Dev sigh while Sanskar glared him.

"Yaar how would I know that be would be behind us? I wouldn't talk about Kusum only, if I knew he is behind us. Anyways don't you think she is looking very beautiful in her white chudidar today?" Dev spoke with teasing smile at the end.

Sanskar shook his head in disbelief but definitely smiled. Laksh who came back to ask Sanskar to go near to stage heard them.

"Kusum di?" he whispered to himself looking at Kusum who is talking to her colleagues and then at Sanskar who is now again staring at Kusum with smile while Dev is smiling at his friend.

Laksh went from there silently to wear his coat. He came back after wearing coat to see his brother talking to some of the associates while he stood there thinking deeply. He suddenly felt a hit on his head which broke his trance.

"What yaar Ragini?" Laksh asked annoyed.

"What happened?" She asked seriously.

"Nothing!" Laksh said again going to deep thoughts.

"Let's go then!" Ragini said not forcing him to say what it is.

Laksh nodded and stood a bit away along with Ragini so that he doesn't make Annapurna uncomfortable. Laksh is just standing with Ragini when someone closed his eyes from behind. Ragini looked at the person with dislike while Laksh stood confused of who is closing his eyes.

"Who is it?" Laksh asked.

"Guess!" The person said.

Laksh smiled a little and spoke.

"Riya?" Laksh asked.

"Aww... Lucky you are the best!" Riya said coming front of Laksh.

Laksh just smiled at her. Ragini glared her. She side hugged him while he responded formally.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I am super duper good. How are you? And Sanskar?" Riya asked.

"We both are good." Laksh said.

Ragini left from there not interested with the person.

"Where is your brother?" She asked.

Laksh looked around to see him along with Dev and few of their office staff. Kusum is also with them.

"With staff!" Laksh said pointing at the direction.

But Laksh's concentration was on Sanskar who is occasionally giving Kusum a look.

"Lucky today I want to ask a favour from you." Riya spoke.

"Me? What's it?" Laksh asked looking at her.

"I am your best friend right?" Riya asked.

"Friend!" Laksh corrected.

Riya frowned.

"I don't lie!" he shrugged his shoulders.

"I am not your best friend?" Riya asked with frown.

"Ragini! She is my best friend. And nobody else!" he said straight.

This made her angry but she controlled her anger and faked a smile.

"It's okay! If I am not your best friend I will become your bhabhi and then we can become best friends." Riya said making Laksh frown more.

"Bhabhi?" Laksh asked with frown.

"Yes! I Like Sanskar. I spoke to dad and he also said he will speak to aunty soon. So we will soon become Bhabhi and Devar. Then we can become best friends!" Riya spoke.

"Riya... Just if you like Bhayya doesn't mean you will become my Bhabhi. Bhayya also should like you in return." Laksh said trying hard to not to show how irritated he was right now.

He speaks to her just because she is good with him. He is okay to be her friend but her as bhabhi he is not at all okay. And beyond all that already his bhayya is not ready for marriage, then Kusum thing what Dev said earlier is also making him curious about the things his bhayya is hiding from him.

Riya got more angry but she controls herself.

"That is why I want your favour Lucky. I want you to help me in impressing Sanskar. I mean just tell me what kind of girl he would like, his likes, dislikes. I know few of them but I want to know more deeply about him so that I can make him as happy as I could." Riya spoke excited.

"Sorry! I just remember a work Bhayya has told me to do. I will just come." Laksh said and left from there not waiting for her to speak anything.

He got irritated listening what all she is speaking. Ragini saw him going from there and followed him.

"Oye!" she called him.

He stopped walking and looked at her.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

He showed his little finger to her and spoke sarcastically.

"Want to join?" He asked sarcastically.

Ragini's eyes widened and she hit him angrily while he chuckled and left from there. By the time Laksh returned he saw Sanskar, Dev and Kusum talking smiling to each other. He was about to move but saw Riya moving towards them. He stopped as he doesn't want to converse with her.

"Hi Sanskar!" Riya spoke hugging Sanskar as soon as she went towards them.

Dev made faces and left from there and Kusum just left from there. Sanskar softly moved away from her hug and smiled awkwardly at her. She immediately hugged his hand smiling bright.

"Sanskar you know I was searching for you from so long. I even asked Lucky about you. He told you were speaking with staff. Since it's their special day too I didn't disturb you." Riya spoke.

"Riya! Umm... would you mind moving a bit away?" Sanskar spoke softly.

Riya smiled fake and moved away leaving him. Sanskar nodded.

"You know Dad..." Sanskar interrupted her.

"I need to look for ma. I will talk to you later." Sanskar said.

Riya nodded and Sanskar left from there sighing.

The party continued while all the time Laksh's whole concentration was on Sanskar. Sanskar on the other hand doesn't know why today he kept adoring Kusum every now and then which made Dev to tease him many times to which Sanskar just glared him.

Sanskar got onto the stage as it's time for the announcement.

"Thank You everyone for being the part of success of 'Maheshwari Companies'. Six decades! It's not an easy thing and everything has been possible just because you people had put your every effort into this company." Sanskar said with smile.

Everybody clapped hearing him.

"So I think you all must have by now known that it has become like a ritual for Maheshwari companies to do something new on it's every mile stone. So this time Maheshwari Companies is going to take up a new line of business. Till now it was only electronics but this time it was a 'Beauty Product'. Yeah just one product. Our research team has been working since months to achieve the desired results and finally just few days ago they got successful. And I am really proud of them for what they had done. They did an excellent job. So let's not drag this speech and bore you all. Let us watch the AV of the product." Sanskar said and everyone clapped their hands.

Sanskar turned around and pressed the remote button switching on the Screen and the AV started with Laksh's voice.

"Lip Stick! A thing that makes already beautiful lips more beautiful and attractive. One of the most favourite beauty product for almost every girl. There are many lipstick brands. But we all know that lipsticks or any other beauty product mostly contains chemicals which would cause harm to the lips or skin regarding the product in one way or the other. But here our Lipstick is different. It is toxin free which would not cause any type of harm to the beautiful lips. It is made of most of the organic raw materials with extremely cruelty free materials. Anybody can go for it without any second thought. So beautiful girls be ready for this amazingly amazing Lipstick with lots and lots of shades, which men can't identify, are going to be available to you in just few months. Finally let's say what we call it. 'Favourite' Lipsticks. Soon we are going to launch many other beauty products on the name of the brand 'Favourite'. So guys get ready to enjoy the 'Favourite' cosmetics soon and say that 'Favourite' is your favourite cosmetic brand." Laksh's voice ended along with AV which had many photographs and small video tapes in the AV which showed the lipsticks and girls putting lipsticks.

Everybody started clapping while Sanskar looked at Laksh with proud smile. Annapurna just stood staring at Sanskar whose smile showed how proud he is on his brother. Laksh just smiled clapping along with everyone.

"You rocked Buddy!" Dev side hugged him while Laksh gave a normal smile to him.

Riya moved to Laksh again.

"Amazing Lucky!" she hugged him.

Laksh moved her away politely.

"Thank You Riya." He said smiling formally.

Ragini glared Riya. Dev controlled his chuckle seeing Ragini.

"Bhai!" Ragini gritted her teeth and spoke like a whisper.

Dev escaped from there. Sanskar got down the stage and hugged Laksh tight which made Laksh happy and smile happily.

"You did amazingly bacha! I am proud of you!" Sanskar said as he cupped his face.

Laksh smiled bright and the shine in his eyes showed how happy he is by making his brother proud.

The party went on later with Sanskar looking after media people telling them about the announcement and providing the AV for them followed by dinner.

****

The next day morning Sanskar entered Laksh's room to see him sleeping peacefully. Sanskar smiled and sat beside his brother. He kept staring at his brother with proud smile. He is beyond proud after the work his brother has done. Last night was his most happiest night since he has seen his brother's amazing work.

"Bacha wake up!" Sanskar woke his brother.

Laksh moved in sleep and slowly opened his eyes and saw his brother's smiling face. He smiled with his sleepy eyes.

"Good Morning bhayya!" He sat up and immediately hugged Sanskar.

"Good morning bacha and Happy Rakshabandhan!" Sanskar wished him.

"Happy Rakshabandhan bhayya! Give me fifteen minutes. I will freshen up and come." Laksh said.

Sanskar nodded and went to freshen up himself too.

Laksh entered Sanskar's room holding a Rakhi and a gift box in his hand. Sanskar smiled seeing him. He pointed at the table where there is a plate with all the necessary things for Rakshabandhan and Laksh grinned. He made Sanskar sit and did all the rituals before tying Rakhi to Sanskar. Next Sanskar too tied Rakhi to him. This was their ritual since childhood. Laksh ties Rakhi to Sanskar and Sanskar to Laksh.

"I swear I will always protect you till my last breath!" Sanskar said and kissed Laksh's forehead.

Laksh smiled.

'And I will always make sure you stay happy Bhayya.' Laksh thought in mind while his mind has many thoughts about his bhayya's happiness.

Sanskar forwarded a gift to Laksh. Laksh took it and he forwarded the gift he brought for Sanskar. Sanskar smiled taking it.

"Bhayya!" Laksh called Sanskar when Sanskar was about to get up from the couch.

"Yes bacha!" Sanskar responded sitting back.

"I don't want this gift bhayya. I want something else." Laksh said.

"Wow! You are asking me something else other than what I brought for you! Miracle!" Sanskar said surprised.

Laksh just gave a small smile.

"Okay! Tell me what you want? Keep this one too though." Sanskar said.

Laksh just nodded before speaking.

"I will ask you tonight when we will go for our late night ice cream outing! But you have to promise me that you will give me that without any arguments." Laksh said forwarding his hand to Sanskar signing him to promise.

Sanskar immediately kept his hand on Laksh's hand promising he would give him whatever he wants.

"Remember this promise bhayya!" Laksh spoke.

This made Sanskar confused and doubtful but still he pushed off his thoughts away and smiled at his brother nodding. Laksh's face turned into a grin before he get into opening his gift. Sanskar smiled and did the same.

It's night. Every year on this day both brothers have their late night ice cream outing without fail. They do this once in a while but this day there won't be any excuse for their outing.

Laksh and Sanskar are sitting on the car's bonnet and having their favourite ice creams.

"So tell me what is it you wanted?" Sanskar asked having a spoon full of ice cream.

"You remember the promise right?" Laksh asked.

"You know your brother right?" Sanskar asked shrugging.

Laksh smiled and nodded.

"Atleast for now. Let us see after what I have to ask for." Laksh said.

Sanskar nodded with a tight lipped smile.

"So tell me what is the reason why you are not ready for marriage?" Laksh spoke.

Sanskar looked at him with not at all impressed look. Laksh shrugged his shoulder.

"Your brain is just struck there. And you have to choose that even today." Sanskar said irritated.

"I chose that even today because that keeps bothering me every day." Laksh said.

Sanskar just looks away.

"You promised bhayya!" Laksh said.

Sanskar doesn't look at him but keeps thinking. He can't just break the promise he has given to his brother. It was like a thing that keeps troubling him if he doesn't fulfil the promise he has given to Laksh and his mother. And here Laksh pulled the weakest point of him and he knows it's his last weapon used by his brother before going into a phase of emotional blackmail. He pulled his hair in frustration. He knows his brother wouldn't be able to take the reason and he can't even lie to him. He is thinking all these when Laksh spoke.

"It's me, right bhayya?" Laksh spoke.

Sanskar immediately looked at Laksh. Laksh didn't need any time to understand. He smiled. Smiled sadly. Sanskar immediately shook his head as no with teary eyes.

"No bacha! You are taking it in a wrong way." Sanskar spoke.

Laksh chuckled with pain in his throat. Sanskar held his brother's hand and cupped his face making him look at him. Laksh just stared into his brother's eyes painfully.

"It's not you. It's my fears Bacha! It's my fear about you, about ma and many other things." Sanskar spoke.

Laksh just moved away trying not to cry. Sanskar again made him look at him.

"You know Laksh, you can never be reason to any of my sorrows. You know you are everything to me. It's just the situations are not in our control that we have to postpone many things in our life and my marriage is one of those that's all. Please don't blame yourself for everything that happens in my life. Stop it! I really hate it." Sanskar spoke.

Laksh just nodded.

"You want to know right, then listen!" Sanskar said.

Laksh looked at his brother waiting for the answer.

"You know right Lucky, my morning goes with ma. My evening goes with you. In the middle I have is office work. Just tell me where is time for me to spend time with my partner. No I am not saying I am not happy with what I have now or how my day goes. I am happy with this. Atleast for now I don't even have time to give for my partner then how do you expect me to let someone come into my life?" Sanskar spoke.

Laksh kept looking at his brother. His brother is not wrong. He knows it's the right point.

"I don't know bacha, I am not ready for this not just because of the time, I just feel I won't be able to give my best even if I let someone into my life. I may not be able to give time to you and ma. It would only make me feel horrible. I am just focused on work right now. I know ma and you both are worried for me but I should be ready for that right. Even if I agree getting into your forcing will I be able to keep my partner happy? Is it not injustice to her? I am scared of hurting my partner, I am scared of hurting my mother, I am scared of hurting my brother, I am scared of hurting myself. I am scared of disappointing my partner Laksh. I am scared of disappointing myself. I am scared of not able to balance my time, I am scared of spoiling all the things around. I am scared of getting things beyond my control. I am scared!" Sanskar explained.

Laksh sighed. His brother's points are definitely valid. But he is not ready to leave this here. He has to do something so that his brother can get happiness.

"Okay bhayya! I understand. Then why aren't you explaining this to ma?" Laksh asked.

"I can bacha. But I know atleast that much that she would either blame herself or blame... (sighs) you!" Sanskar sighed again.

Laksh looked down and nodded.

"So we need a solution!" Laksh said.

Sanskar chuckled. His brother isn't going to give up.

"You are not going to give up, right!" Sanskar asked.

Laksh shook his head.

"Because it's high time bhayya. You deserve happiness! And I will find a solution for this at any cost." Laksh said.

Sanskar just patted his brother's head lovingly smiling as he knows there would be no solution to it unless he could get his brother settled properly both in his career and life. This is what he had decided. He would settle in his life only after settling his little brother even if it would cost to lose his love. He had never shared this with anyone and he will never.

"Bhayya!" Laksh called him bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Haan bacha!" Sanskar responded.

"Let's go home bhayya! I am sleepy!" Laksh said.

Sanskar nodded. Laksh kept thinking deeply all the way home. Sanskar though observed him spoke nothing. He is in his own thoughts though because he knows there is definitely atleast a little Laksh would be blaming himself for what all he told. This is why he never wanted to share about his thoughts and feelings to his brother. Everything his brother does is only blames himself even if it is not his fault. And when he knows that something regarding him is one of the reasons for Sanskar to be not ready for marriage he wouldn't stop himself from blaming.

Laksh was about to go into his room when Sanskar held his hand. Laksh looked at his bhayya in confusion.

"Shall we sleep together today?" Sanskar asked.

Laksh's eyes shined and was about to nod yes but he shook his head as no immediately. Sanskar left his hand not speaking a word and went inside. Laksh's eyes turned moist and he ran inside his room.

"I am sorry bhayya!" Laksh whispered as he laid down on his bed and kept staring at the ceiling.

Sanskar was also doing the same. He is just staring at the ceiling. He wouldn't be able to sleep today. So would be Laksh. Sanskar just kept staring blankly at the ceiling when he felt some weight on his chest. He doesn't need to look down. He just kept his hand around the person and closed his eyes letting his tears flow.

"I am sorry bhayya!" Laksh whispered letting his tears flow.

Sanskar just caressed his hair lovingly and Laksh fell asleep in no time. Sanskar kissed Laksh's head and made him sleep on the bed properly. Sanskar kept staring Laksh's peaceful face until he fell asleep too.

Next morning when Sanskar woke up Laksh wasn't beside him which was completely unusual. Sanskar immediately rushed towards Laksh's room to find him but he wasn't there too. Sanskar started moving to check the whole house to find the main door open. He frowned and moved towards gym room realising his brother already went to gym.

He saw Laksh walking on the thread mill with his head phones on. He went and tapped his shoulder. Laksh looked at him and stopped. He smiled bright at his brother.

"Good Morning bhayya!" Laksh wished.

"What are you doing here at this time?" Sanskar asked straight ignoring Laksh's good morning.

"Bhayya did you get blind?" Laksh asked annoyed.

Sanskar hit Laksh's head a little making Laksh twitch his lips.

"You know what I mean Lucky!" Sanskar spoke.

Sanskar knows Laksh doesn't wake until Sanskar finishes his workout and wake Laksh, then Laksh would go for his workout. But today it was completely different.

"Oh that one! Just finding a solution. See... we can spend time in gym together so that you can make time for bhabhi in the morning! See we got some time. Yay!" Laksh chirped.

Sanskar rolled his eyes. But just nodded at his brother as he knows his brother is not going to listen anything. Anyways why wouldn't he enjoy a gym partner?

After sometime Sanskar got freshen up and moved to kitchen to check on the breakfast to see Laksh there doing something. Sanskar was surprised as Laksh always was lazy about learning cooking while Sanskar always asked him to learn.

"Bhayya! See today I am making upma. Kaki is teaching me." Laksh spoke excited.

Sanskar smiled a little. His brother is adamant. But he is his brother that too elder. Even more adamant. He moved towards his brother and shuffled his hair making Laksh look at him with grin. Sanskar chuckled a little and stood there guiding his brother.

"Don't tell ma that I made it!" Laksh said passing the tray.

"You don't need to say that to me bacha!" Sanskar caressed Laksh's cheek.

Laksh smiled sadly and nodded. Sanskar left to his mother's room and they both had their breakfast normally.

From that day Laksh has started trying his best to make changes in their routine so that his brother can feel that he could make time for his partner but does he know that his brother doesn't just bother about the time management but also about the care Laksh needs and deserves.

****

Thank You for reading.

With Love

Dharani (Dhaరणि)