A few days later...

Saransh stood outside Adhyay's room.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then he knocked.

Adhyay: Yes?

Saransh entered.

Saransh: Baat karni thi tujhse. (I wanted to talk with you)

Adhyay: Hmm?

Saransh took a deep breath.

For the first time in days, he looked genuinely nervous.

Saransh: I'm sorry.

Adhyay blinked.

Adhyay: It's okay.

Saransh: Haan, mujhe pata hai tu yehi bolegi. (I knew, you would say this)

He rolled his eyes.

Saransh: Pehle meri baat toh sun. (Let me complete it first)

Adhyay nodded.

Saransh looked down for a moment.

Saransh: Adhyay... mere behaviour ne tujhe bahut hurt kiya hai. Aur mujhe realise hi nahi hua ki meri actions ka tujh par kitna effect pad raha tha. (Adhyay, I know my behaviour hurt you a lot. And I didn't realise how my actions are affecting you)

His voice became softer.

Saransh: I'm sorry.

Adhyay remained silent for a few seconds.

Then she smiled faintly.

Adhyay: It's okay.

Saransh (dramatically): Huh!

Saransh: Bas "It's okay"?

Adhyay giggled.

Saransh: Toh tere liye main tera bhai hoon? (So, for you, I am your brother?)

Adhyay: Umm...

She thought for a moment.

Adhyay: Mumma aur Papa ke according toh haan. (According to Mom, Dad Yes)

Saransh blinked.

Adhyay: Mere according... nahi. (For me... no)

Saransh nodded.

Saransh: Fair enough.

He extended his hand toward her.

Saransh: Toh friend ban sakta hoon?

Adhyay looked suspicious.

Adhyay: Mere koi friends nahi hain. Phir aap mujhe tease karoge. (I don't have any friends. So, you will tease me)

Saransh: Pakka nahi karunga. (I won't)

Then he folded his hands dramatically.

Saransh: Ab maan bhi, ja meri maa. (Say yes mother)

Adhyay burst out laughing.

Then nodded.

Adhyay: Theek hai. (Okay)

Saransh: Wait a minute.

He took out a small gift box from his pocket.

Saransh: Ye tere liye. (This is for you)

Adhyay carefully opened it.

Inside was a beautiful diary.

She looked surprised.

Adhyay: Diary?

Saransh: Tujhe kisi se kuch share karne mein dar lagta hai.
(You don't feel comfortable sharing anything)

Adhyay nodded.

Saransh: Toh isme likh diya kar. Accha feel hoga.
(Pen down in this. You will feel better)

Adhyay looked at him.

Adhyay: Aapko kaise pata? (How do you know?)

Saransh shrugged.

Saransh: Kyunki main bhi wahi karta hoon.
(I follow the same)

Adhyay smiled.

Then suddenly stood up and hugged him.

Saransh froze.

Then awkwardly hugged her back.

Saransh: Main tera worst enemy tha na?
(I was your worst enemy, right?)

Adhyay immediately nodded.

Saransh laughed.

Saransh: Honest toh bahut hai tu.
(You are very honest)

Saransh: Chalo... ab try karta hoon best friend banne ki.
(Okay then... I will try to be your best friend)

Adhyay: Pakka? Tang toh nahi karoge?
You sure? You won't trouble me?)

Saransh: Try karunga nahi karne ka.
(I will try not to)

He grinned.

Saransh: Aur agar kiya bhi toh thoda sa.
Even if I did... little bit)

Adhyay: Bhai!

Saransh: Arre mazaak tha. (I was joking)

Both laughed.

Saransh: Aur haan.... Kal se tujhe self-defence sikhaunga. (Ah yes! From tomorrow, I will teach you Self-Defence)

Adhyay: But why?

Saransh: Taaki future mein koi mere jaisa tujhe tang kare toh tu uske haath pair tod sake. (So, in future if someone is troubling you. You can break the bones)

Adhyay nodded seriously.

Saransh continued with a straight face.

Saransh: Bina tension ke tod dena. Main aur Dad murder cover kar lenge.
(Break the bones without any worry then Dad and I will cover the murder)

Adhyay's eyes widened.

Adhyay: KYA?! (What?!)

Saransh immediately burst out laughing.

Saransh: Tera face! Oh God! (Look at your face!)

Adhyay hit his arm lightly.

Adhyay: Aur haan... Woh bhabhi-bhabhi jo aapke friends bolte the... Woh kya tha?
(Umm... that bhabhi bhabhi of your friends... what's that?)

Saransh groaned.

Saransh: Duh! Unko ignore kar. Waise bhi woh mere friends nahi rahe. (Ignore them. They are not my friends anymore)

His expression softened.

Saransh: Maybe hum utne bonded nahi hain. But we're siblings.
(Maybe, we aren't bonded)

Adhyay nodded.

Then narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Adhyay: Suddenly sorry bolna aur friendship karna yaad aa gaya?
(Suddenly, you thought to say sorry and friendship?)

Saransh: Nahi. Party wale din se soch raha tha. Bas himmat nahi ho rahi thi.
(No! Since party day, I was thinking but couldn't prepare my mind)

Then he pointed at her.

Saransh: Aur ho gayi teri interrogation Ya aur kuch poochna hai? Seriously, tu Mom ki tarah lag rahi hai.
(Done with your interrogation? Do you have anything else to ask? You are seriously like mom)

Adhyay giggled.

Adhyay: Mere paas bhi gift hai.

Saransh looked surprised.

She went to her cupboard and returned with a box.

Adhyay: Ye aapke liye. (This is for you)

Saransh opened it.

Inside was a watch.

Saransh: Boyfriend ke liye li thi kya? (Did you buy this for your boyfriend?)

Adhyay: Mera koi boyfriend nahi hai. (I don't have a boyfriend)

Saransh: Haan woh toh hai. Tera boyfriend banega kaise? Tu kisi se baat hi nahi karti.
(Oh! That's true. Because you don't speak with anyone. How will you make a boyfriend)

Adhyay (irritated): Toh aapki harkate dekh kar kaunsi ladki aapki girlfriend banegi?
(Looking at your behaviour, you think any girl will accept your proposal?)

Saransh slowly raised an eyebrow.

Saransh: Huh. Aajkal mujhse aise baat kar rahi hai?
(You are talking with me in this tone?)

Immediately Adhyay became nervous.

She lowered her head.

Adhyay: Aapne bola tha tang nahi karoge. (You said you won't trouble me)

Saransh pretended to think.

Saransh: Maine aisa kab bola? (I said this?)

Adhyay looked at him in disbelief.

A second later, Saransh burst out laughing.

Saransh: Tera face dekhne layak tha! (Look at your face)

Adhyay glared at him.

After calming down-

Saransh: Ek baat sach sach bata. (Tell me the truth)

Adhyay: Hmm?

Saransh: Tune kabhi Mom ya Dad se meri complain kyun nahi ki? Main tujhe bully karta tha. Project mein ditch bhi kiya tha.
(Why did you never complain to mom, dad? I used to bully you. Ditched you in the project)

Adhyay looked down.

Adhyay: Mujhe dar lagta tha. (I was scared)

Saransh: Kis baat ka? (Why?)

Adhyay: Ki aapke father mujhe school se nikal denge. (Your father will rusticate me from school)

Saransh stared at her.

Saransh: What?

Adhyay: Papa nahi... Aapke real father. (Not dad... your real father)

Saransh rolled his eyes dramatically.

Saransh: Pehli baat. Woh mere kuch nahi lagte. So don't call him my father.
(First thing, he is no one to me)

Then he frowned.

Saransh: Aur doosri baat... Woh tujhe school se kyun nikalenge?
(Second thing, why will he rusticate you?)

Adhyay: Woh school ke trustee hain na.
(He is the school's trustee)

Saransh blinked.

Then blinked again.

Saransh: KYA?! (What?!)

Adhyay: Mere classmates bolte hain. Isliye mujhe dar lagta tha. (My classmates told me, that's why I am scared.)

Saransh looked horrified.

Saransh: Ye sada hua joke tujhe kisne bataya?
Aur agar woh trustee hote na... To main school hi chhod deta. Unke under padhne se accha.
(Who told you this nonsense joke? And if he is the school's trustee then why would he be in the same school? I would have left this school)

Adhyay stared at him.

Clearly shocked.

Saransh sighed.

Saransh: Dekh. Mom ko agar pata chal jata na ki meri wajah se teri studies affect ho rahi hain... Tomujhe school se nikal deti. Tujhe nahi.
(Look, if Mom were to know, I am the reason, your studies are being affected. She would have kicked me out of school, not you)

Adhyay laughed softly.

Saransh: Lastly...

He extended his hand again.

Saransh: Past ke liye sorry.

With a small smile.

Saransh: Aur ab pakka wala promise. Main tera friend hoon.
(And I promise, I am your friend now)

He smirked.

Saransh: First friend.

Adhyay nodded happily, accepting his hand)

Saransh: Chal. Video game khelte hain.
(Come. Let's play a video game)

Adhyay: Nahi! Mujhe nahi aata.
(No! I don't know how to play)

Saransh: Toh seekh ja.
(Then learn it)

Before she could protest, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her outside.

Adhyay: Arre!

Saransh: Come on. I will teach you.

Soon both were sitting in the living room.

Playing.

Laughing.

Arguing.

Teasing each other.

And for the first time...

Actually enjoying each other's company.

---

In the evening, Arth and Geeta returned from work.

The moment they entered, both stopped.

On the couch sat Saransh and Adhyay.

Completely engrossed in a video game.

Both parents exchanged surprised looks.

Then smiled.

Arth: Main bhi join kar raha hoon.
(I am also joining you)

He immediately sat beside them.

Adhyay climbed into his lap.

Adhyay (whining): Papa!

Glaring at Saransh

Adhyay: Mujhe achhe se sikhao.
(Teach me correctly)

She pointed at Saransh.

Adhyay: Ye properly nahi sikha raha. Dekho na, continuously jeet raha hai.
(He isn't teaching me properly. He is winning continuously)

Saransh (shouting): Maine koi cheating nahi ki! Tujhe khelna nahi aa raha. Isme meri kya galti?
(There is no cheating. You don't know how to play. What's my fault?)

Arth laughed.

Arth: Okay. Ab hum dono milkar ise harayenge.
(Together will make him lose)

Adhyay: Yay!

She excitedly poked her tongue.

Arth: Adhyay, that's bad manners.

He said sternly. Adhyay pouted.

Geeta sat beside them.

Cheering.

Laughing.

Enjoying the chaos.

And for a long time...

The house echoed only with happiness.

---

THE END

Neither Saransh nor Adhyay realised it.

But time had slowly done its work.

After their parents' marriage, Adhyay had stopped being so afraid of him.

And Saransh had slowly started considering her a part of his family.

It wasn't easy.

It wasn't instant.

There were mistakes.

Arguments.

Misunderstandings.

And hurt.

But eventually...

They learned to understand each other.

And somewhere along the way...

A family of four finally became a family.

Stay tuned for the Epilogue...