Goals: 50 comments and 200 Votes

Happy Reading...

After breakfast...

Adrita gave Ruhi her medicines. Mihika made her sleep.

Ruhi slept in one room, and everyone sat in the living area.

The atmosphere of the house was calm—or one could say it was the calm after a silent storm.

Skip to evening...

With an exhausted mind, a dehydrated and weak body, and the lingering effects of medication, Ruhi slept through the entire afternoon.

Family members kept checking on her from time to time.

It was evening.

Vidyut, Anirudh, Saurav, Nayan, and Yug sat in one room discussing the college and the incident.

Meanwhile, Harsha, Mihika, Adrita, and Ankita sat with the kids.

Adrita: I guess we should wake Ruhi now. It's been a long time. If she still isn't feeling well, we should take her to the doctor.

Harsha and Mihika agreed.

Ankita: I will wake her.

With that, she walked into the room.
She sat beside Ruhi’s sleeping figure and checked her temperature by placing her hand on Ruhi’s forehead.

Her fever had subsided, and she was sweating.

Ankita (shaking her lightly): Ruhi beta.

After two attempts, Ruhi stirred and opened her eyes.

As she woke up, she felt her mind numb and her body sweaty and sticky.

Ankita: How are you feeling now?

Ruhi: All sweaty...

Ankita (smiling): Have a quick shower. You will feel better.

Ruhi nodded.

Ankita: Don't use hot water. Take a shower with normal water.

Ruhi nodded and stood up.

Ankita: You go. I will give you clothes and a towel.

Ruhi: Ji, Masi.

Ruhi walked into the washroom. Ankita gave her clothes and then went out of the room.

Harsha saw her.

Harsha: Ruhi?

Ankita: She is taking a shower.

Harsha nodded. They all sat waiting for Ruhi.

With Ruhi…

After her shower, she went to the balcony to hang the towel to dry.

She noticed the sky was dark. It was already evening. Everything around her felt calm.

She looked up and saw three stars twinkling. A soft evening breeze brushed against her cheeks.

Ruhi sat on the couch in the balcony.

Ruhi (looking at the stars): Mumma, Badi Mumma, Dadi... You know, I made a mistake. I thought my brothers wouldn’t support me. I was scared to share the truth with them, but I was so wrong.
You know, Badi Mumma, Dadi always used to say they are the best sons. Even bhabhis say they are the best husbands. They are the best fathers too... and also the best brothers.

When little Ruhi used to live with her mother, she would sit and share everything with her.

Today, that little girl sat with her three mothers, opening her heart. She spoke about how proud she was of her brothers. A small smile rested on her lips while tears softly rolled down her cheeks. For a moment, she felt as if the sky itself was comforting her.

Ruhi was pulled back to the present when she heard Khush’s voice.
She quickly wiped her tears and turned toward him.

Khush sat beside her with a sad pout.

Khush: Bua, see! Papa, Saurav Chachu, Vidyut Chachu, Yug Chachu, and Nayan Chachu are having a boys' meeting in the room. When I went inside, Papa said not to come. Bua, this is wrong.

Ruhi: They are having a big boys' meeting?

She said, unsure how to explain it to him.

Khush gave her an offended look.

Khush (huffing): I am a big boy! I brush my teeth two times without Papa helping. I don't ask Mumma or Papa to pick me up like Advik and Advika. Papa always tells me to take care of Niyati in school, and Adrita Chachi tells me to take care of Advik and Advika when I play with them. I complete my lunchbox in school. I am a big boy now.

He explained while counting the responsibilities he held.

A small smile appeared on Ruhi’s lips.

He pouted sadly. He pulled out a half-eaten Oreo biscuit from his pocket and took a bite.

Ruhi just ruffled his hair. Khush forwarded the remaining piece to Ruhi.

Khush: This is my emercy biscuit. You have fever. You will be happy like me.

(Emercy = Emergency)

He said with a wide smile.Ruhi ate it with tears in her eyes.

The biscuit was only one-fourth left, soft and soggy. But this tiny biscuit held a whole heart of love. She smiled, understanding how he kept his favorite biscuit in his pocket and how it made him happy when he felt sad.

Khush (wiping her tears): Aap Papa ko gussa karo aur bolo main big boy hoon.
(You scold Papa and tell him I am a big boy.)

Saurav (smiling): Yes, you are our big boy. See, how you made your Bua smile.
Khush saw Ruhi smiling and grinned proudly.

Saurav, who had been standing at the door watching Ruhi and Khush, finally spoke, his heart content seeing Ruhi smile.

Saurav: Papa told you not to come into the room because we thought you would keep the girls busy. It's a boys' top secret. Girls shouldn't know.

Khush nodded with a pout.

Saurav: Now go. Papa is looking for you.

Khush jumped from the couch and went toward Saurav. He gestured for Saurav to bend down to his height. Saurav obeyed, kneeling down.

Khush (whispering in Saurav’s ear): I don't know the boys' secret.

He pulled away, pouting. Saurav couldn't stop smiling.

Saurav: Go and ask Nayan Chachu. He will tell you.

Khush grinned and ran out. Finally, he would get to know the agenda of the boys' meeting.

Saurav turned to Ruhi and saw her smiling.

After Khush left, Saurav sat beside her. She immediately cuddled with him.

Ruhi (mumbling): Bhaiya, I am sorry for keeping everything from you.

Saurav pulled Ruhi closer and kissed her hair.

Saurav: You know, Ruhi, when you were a kid you used to sit on my lap and cuddle with me. Now I think you are heavy. I don't think you can still sit on my lap. That's why you cuddle like this.

Ruhi pulled away and gave him an offended look.

She stood up, sat on his lap, and hugged him.

Ruhi: See! I can sit on your lap and still cuddle with you.

Saurav (chuckling): Exactly. You were, you are, and you will always be my little girl. Just because we are growing up doesn’t mean you will be different for me.

Ruhi stared at him with soft eyes.

Saurav: Don’t ever think your bhaiya will not support you. You are always my little Ruhi.

Ruhi (nodding): My Saurav bhaiya is here, na.

She whispered, gulping the lump in her throat and hugging him tightly.

Vidyut (clearing his throat): Bhai, don't ever think you will be her favourite brother. That's me, and only me.

He said this as he noticed Ruhi getting emotional. He didn’t want her to cry now. After the fever, she was finally feeling better.

He walked in. Saurav and Ruhi were still cuddling.

Vidyut: Huh! I am her favourite brother. She loves me the most.

He looked at Ruhi, raising his eyebrow. Ruhi giggled. The hearts of Saurav and Vidyut calmed on hearing her giggles.

Vidyut opened his arms. Ruhi immediately hugged him.

Vidyut: Feeling better?

Ruhi nodded.

Vidyut: Alright! Let's go. Everyone is waiting for you.

Breaking the hug, Ruhi was about to take a step when Vidyut held her.

Vidyut (raising his eyebrow): Whenever you had a fever, you always wanted me to carry you. Now you want to walk?

Saying this, he quickly picked her up in a bridal style. Ruhi wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling.

Vidyut walked out of the balcony and then the room. He went into the living area.

Saurav sighed. Picking up the towel from the couch that Ruhi had been holding, he hung it before walking out.

In the living area...

Vidyut came with Ruhi and made her sit on the sofa beside Anirudh.

Anirudh, who had been waiting for her, first took a thermometer to check her temperature.

After checking it and seeing it was normal, he gave her water.

Anirudh: You must be dehydrated. Have some water. Sip it slowly, then drink coconut water.

Ruhi obeyed him and drank water, followed by coconut water.

Anirudh: Good… are you hungry?

Ruhi shook her head. Before anyone could say anything, Khush came to her.

Khush (excitedly): Bua, the boys planned a party and Papa will bring pizza, pasta, and sandwiches for dinner.

Anirudh (shocked): I never agreed to this.

Vidyut, Nayan, and Khush started whining and arguing. Saurav chuckled, thinking how Nayan had planned the party and told Khush it was a boys' secret. Now Nayan, Vidyut, and Khush wouldn't settle for less. Of course, Khushi and Niyati were also in support.

Anirudh (eyeing Nayan): Masi, Nayan is being over-smart.

Ankita (chuckling): He is already smart. He doesn't need to be over-smart.

Anirudh (rolling his eyes): Ruhi is not well. She shouldn't eat outside food.

Ruhi (whining): I won't eat khichdi or any kind of hospital food.

This moment was special for the family. Ruhi, who had been silent since yesterday, was arguing with Anirudh again. They couldn’t control the happiness stretching across their smiles.

Khushi: Yes, Papa… Bua has to take medicines. She should eat yummy food.

Niyati: Bade Papa… pizza…

Khush (excitedly): Ice-cream!

Nayan: See, everyone wants to enjoy.

Vidyut: Party is final. Masi?

He dragged Ankita into the argument, knowing Anirudh wouldn’t deny her decision.

Ankita nodded, laughing. The kids cheered, including Vidyut, making everyone laugh. Anirudh finally agreed, scowling.

Ruhi: I will also go and buy these. I don't want to stay at home and get bored. I am already bored.

Nayan (nervously): Can I take Ruhi with me to buy all this?

Khushi (raising her hand): I will come.

She declared.

Adrita: No! Only Nayan and Ruhi. Nayan, do take care of Ruhi. She will enjoy the fresh air as well.

Nayan nodded with a shy smile.

Anirudh: No harsh driving.

Nayan nodded.

Harsha (handing cotton balls to Ruhi): Put these in your ears.

Ruhi took the cotton balls and put them in her ears.

Anirudh gave them money and they left.
With Ruhi and Nayan

Ruhi: Don't listen to Dada's instructions. Drive fast.

Nayan (smiling): No! Fast driving is only safe when the roads are empty. We will go for a fast ride some other day, Ruhi Chuhi.

He flicked her nose. She giggled. They sat on the bike and drove off.

During the ride

Ruhi (hesitating): Did Yug bhai and Vidyut bhai find anything?

Ruhi finally asked him. She couldn’t gather the courage to ask her brothers.

Nayan: You shouldn't worry about that. They will handle it.

Ruhi just nodded.

Nayan (sighing): Ruhi, why did you hide this from me? Don't you trust your best friend?

Ruhi (nervously): It's not like that. I thought someone was playing a prank from college, but suddenly things turned different. I couldn’t understand what to do. Honestly, I was scared of my brothers, but you know… I was wrong.

Nayan just nodded.

They reached the café and ordered.
They sat at the table, waiting for their order.

Nayan (holding Ruhi's hand): Ruhi, I don't know if this is the right time or not, but I want you to know something.

Ruhi nodded in confusion. Nayan took a deep breath.

Nayan: Ruhi, you are my family. Not because you are my cousin brother's sister, but because you are a special person to me. You are like my home. I don't know if I can help you solve your problems, but I want to be your support when you are in problems. Your problems feel like my own. I want to stand beside you so you always have someone to lean on. Don't hide anything from me. I will always be beside you.

He spoke with so much sincerity while looking into her eyes. Her heart skipped a few beats.

He kissed the palm he was holding, still looking into her eyes.

She felt butterflies in her stomach. Unable to hold his gaze, she looked away.

Nayan, who had been nervous while confessing and kissing her hand, smiled widely when he noticed her shy gaze, pink cheeks, and the way she avoided eye contact.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The noise of the café suddenly felt louder than before.

Once their order was ready, they left for home

To be continued...