****The sign "##" before the chapter number means it's Flashback****

Jay.

Rahul yawned and stretched as we walked back.

"Why the hell would you attend that class?" he looked at either side, looking at Aryan and me.

"That's what I would like to ask Aryan," I said.

"We only wanted to warn them against causing trouble with the Academy students," Rahul said. "Aryan has already taken care of them that day." he said.

He knows that we were involved in a fight with the other gang at Emerald hotel. He just doesn't know the severity of the things or about Aryan's "Special power", as we like to call it.

"Yeah, right," I said. "But we need to take care of the person behind the news leak," I said darkly, thinking about Ananya.

"Prashanth," Aryan and Rahul said simultaneously and I turned to them in surprise.

"You think it was Prashanth?" I asked him.

"Think of it," Rahul said. "He already worked with our rivals and tried to cause harm to our team," Rahul explained. "He even changed the boxing gloves,"

"That's right, I cannot think of anyone else who would do this," Aryan agreed.

Now...that sounds reasonable too...but I can't just rule out all other possibilities.

I looked at Aryan, I know that he has somehow felt comfortable with Ananya. He has never trusted anyone that easily before, so the whole thing is making me wary.

I just don't want him to get hurt.

"We don't know for sure if it was Prashanth or not, better be careful," I said.

"I think we need to get that bastard out of here first," Rahul said. "He has always tried to challenge us from the moment he joined here, my tolerance level has its limits," Rahul said adamantly.

"That's right," I shrugged. "We need to get him out of here," I turned to Aryan. "What do you think?"

"We have tolerated him enough," He agreed.

"So back to our discussion, why did you attend Professor Radika's class?" I looked at him sideways.

He took a few steps forward before answering me.

"I did miss "Business law" as we were out for the tournament-"

"Cut the crap," I said. "What's the deal with you sitting with Ananya?" I asked.

"I feel that she's a good person," Aryan shrugged.

"Whoa! Wait! You were attending that class for that girl!?" Rahul looked bewildered. He then turned to walk back, "I didn't notice her! Let me go and see-" he stopped midway as both Aryan and I pulled him back.

"But let me see her! It's the first time he's showing interest in something other than his academics and kickboxing!" He said. "Do you like her?" He turned to look at Aryan.

I too listened to him for an answer.

"I just met her and I think she's a good person," Aryan shrugged. "You are overreacting, Rahul," he said.

"You were single all this time-" he stopped as his phone started to ring.

"It's Veena! I need to take this," he said.

Aryan and I looked at each other. Veena's call means trouble.

The only person who is in a serious relationship among us is Rahul. He is in love with his childhood sweetheart for as long as we know him. But the only problem is her brother, who is a police officer and doesn't approve of this relationship. Veena's brother; Naveen, dislikes Rahul's dad, who is the leading politician in the area.

To our surprise, Rahul came back smiling from ear to ear.

"Guess what!?" He exclaimed. "Naveen is going to Delhi for a week!" He smiled. "I can visit her!"

Aryan chuckled while I shook my head.

"The things you do for a girl..." I said.

"You will only know the feeling when you have someone you love sincerely and that person has a super-intolerable brother," He said.

"So, when are you going there?" I asked.

"As soon as her brother has taken the flight," he grinned.

Aryan and I looked at each other again.

There is no hope for this guy...

"Come on!" Rahul was in high spirit. "My treat today," he said.

"I have an arrangement," Aryan said.

I looked at him. Aryan always has some sort of business parties and charity events to attend. Even though he hates the gathering, He usually attends all of that.

He is trying his best to be perfect in every sense.

"That's bad then," Rahul turned to me.

"I too have an appointment," I said and Rahul sighed.

Ananya.

"You missed him again?" Amit asked me. "You were so sure that you will meet him at the Emerald hotel, what happened?" He looked at me.

"It's not easy to meet people like Felix Francis, they are at the top of the good chain for a reason," I said.

And I don't even want to think about what happened at the Emerald hotel that day.

"It was useless then," Amit looked disappointed.

"Not at all, even though I couldn't meet him, The pay for the part-time job was good," I said sincerely. "Thank you, Amit,"

Amit is the student body president and he helps me from time to time to get the jobs that pay well. This time he was trying to help me talk to one of the ex-investors in my dad's small scale industry.

"It's nothing, Ananya, I know your condition well," he said.

"Shh... keep it down," I said, looking around our seat in the cafeteria.

"I think this is not right, Ananya, You don't have to bear it alone, It's better if you talk about it to your relatives," he said.

"Amit," I said. "I am barely managing to keep it under control," I said. "It will do more trouble if my relatives come to know that my Dad's business is sinking," I said.

"How long will you be able to do this?"

"As long as I can get my house back," I said. "I have some money left by my Mom, I only need to make a little more to get back the documents from the bank,"

"What about your father then? What are you going to do?"

"As long as I get my house back, nobody will know about this dire situation, I am planning to hide the current financial crisis of the company and take it forward,"

"You think you can revive it?" He asked me.

"My Dad's trusted friend Uncle Krishna said we can get back on feet with the new investment, but for that, I need to keep the current financial status a secret," I said.

Amit takes a deep breath.

"But you are afraid to trust anyone; you are trying to keep everything to yourself,"

"Amit, have you heard about the story of 'The boy who broke the bank?'" I asked.

He looked confused.

"It is a story by Ruskin Bond about a boy who was working at a bank by sweeping up. The bank manager was way overdue in paying him for the job. Soon that bank collapsed and rumour had it that it was because of the unpaid boy. Because word got around that the boy didn't get paid, people assumed that the bank had no money. The people who dealt with the bank were worried about their money." I looked at him.

"Amit, in my case, I am already broke, I don't want word to get out that we are facing financial problems, I am positive that we can turn the problem around with enough investment," I said.

Amit nodded. "I understand, I just wanted you to share the burden with your relatives, but I see that it is also a problem," he said.

"Thank you for helping me from time to time... And do tell me if you have any jobs for me," I added.

"No need to thank me, we are from the same hometown plus our mother's were friends before..."

...Before my mother passed away.

"I know," I smiled sadly.

I walked back after a while.

Ever since my mom passed away due to illness, my dad started to drink. He couldn't accept the fact that my mom was gone and he was totally destroying his life.

He didn't care about the business anymore and he even started to withdraw money from the business to drink with his friends.

I didn't know he even put the house on loan until I got a bank notice.

It's also my fault that I couldn't stop him drinking away his life. I should not have let him have his way, but I too was miserable that time.

Once I get back my house, I will talk to him and make things back to normal.

We can't continue to live like this, Mom will be sad to see this...

Jay.

"Why did you call me here?" I asked Dad as he looked at me.

"To train," He said. "What else should a kickboxer do?" He asked back.

"Is that why you are not coming home?" I asked him. "You are worrying Mom," I said.

"We are people from different worlds," He said, making me angry instantly.

My Dad met my Mom on a blind date arranged by my granny. Even though it was an arranged meeting, they were instantly attracted to each other.

"Didn't you know that when you married her?" I didn't back down.

My Dad was from an influential family. His family was known for their success and the boxing trait in the bloodline. My Mom came from a good family too, but not as well known as my dad.

"There are things that you don't understand," He said.

"Things like what?" I asked him sternly.

"You don't have to be concerned about this; all you have to do is focus on Kickboxing-"

"I am doing my training well-"

"Then defeat me once and I will believe you,"

He said.

Soon both of us were inside the ring and facing each other.

And in front of all his trainees, we started our match.

I never defeated my Dad before, He is a world-famous champion, but this time, I am really angry at the way he said that about Mom.

I kicked and punched him while he missed it.

I still could have won, but at the last moment, I hesitated to knock him out even when I had the chance.

Dad spin and kicked me down and I laid there, panting while one of them tapped the floor and counted.

As soon as the match was over, he got up and removed the mask and gloves.

"You will only fail if you hesitate to strike, Jaydev, keep it in mind," He said. "In the ring, the person who faces you is your enemy, no matter whoever it is," he added and walked back.

"Brother Jay, you were good," the trainees started to talk as soon as my Dad disappeared.

"You are so much stronger now,"

"That's right, you could have easily won the game if you had struck first,"

But I just laid down there inside the ring.

I am angry at my dad and worried about my Mom. It had been nearly a year since my Dad and Mom started living separately.

They are not divorced or anything, they just sort of drifted apart.

Theirs was a marriage arranged by my granny. Now that Dad moved out of the house, Gran is angry and chose to stand firmly on her daughter-in-law's side.

Aryan.

"Why did you call me?" I asked my Dad as soon as I sat down in front of him in his study.

"I heard that you are working with your Uncle," He said.

He is talking about his brother, of course.

"Why can't I?" I asked back.

"Do you think you are eligible to take the CEO position?" He asked back. "If you were, I would have depended on you long before," he added.

We looked at each other, both of us refusing to back down.

"The last two projects I lead were both successful," I said. "You doubted me then too," I said.

"Yes and my doubts were confirmed," He said. "You just proved that you are not eligible to lead the Kashyap industries,"

I raised my eyebrows at that.

"Aryan, what happened at the Emerald Hotel?" He asked and I froze.

He knew!

I had thought that I had done a good job masking that.

"It was the usual fight between two college gangs,"

"Really? One of the guys cannot continue boxing and another was in the intensive care unit for a week, and you think it was quite normal?" He said slowly. "This is what I meant, Aryan, You think nearly killing a person is normal, you think everything is alright as long as you hide your true self!" He lowered his voice.

Hiding my true self?

I stared at my dad.

"Who taught me to take care of things like this?" I asked back. "You were the one who used to clean up after everything I had done," I said.

Instead of acknowledging my disability and taking me to a Doctor, He was the one who taught me to clear the mess like this.

"Just because Jaydev and you are trying your best to hide your true self doesn't mean that you are normal, Aryan, It's time you acknowledge that you are not like normal people," he said. "Do you have any idea what would happen when people find out that the heir of Kashyap industries is abnormal? I want you to stay away from the firm," he said.

"I have done nothing to tarnish the family name-"

"I don't want to wait till you do something, all I am asking you are to stay away from the main branch and the spotlight," he said. "You can have a comfortable and worry-free life; you don't have to worry about anything."

Does he think that I will be thankful? He is trying to lock me up in a golden cage.

I got up.

"I am confident in myself," I said. "You can ask me to quit when I do something to your firm," I said and turned around.

"Aryan! They are using you," He said. "They are using you to get at me," he added. "Why else did you think he gave up that position?"

I chuckled at that.

As if it's possible for my dad to be affected because of me!

"I know that you wouldn't give a damn whoever uses me,"

"I don't," he said. "And I wouldn't back down just because you are standing in my way, Aryan," he said. "It's better for you to give up now because I am not planning to stop anything just because you are involved,"

He is warning me that he would destroy everything in his path, even his "only" son if he has to.

"I don't expect you to stop, and I don't want you to expect it from me too," I said and walked out of there.

"Young master,"

I heard a voice and turned to see our butler.

"Thomas," I nodded.

He looked happy to see me.

"Stay for some tea," he invited me like he always used to.

"I am a little busy today," I rejected the offer as I always did.

"Your Amma was missing you," he said. "You can meet her if you stay for dinner; she is out at the moment."

Amma missing me!

It's been so many years and still, Thomas hasn't accepted the fact that our family is messed up and broken like this.

I was tempted to retort that I am living in the same city as them; I wanted to tell him that she could visit me whenever she wants, but I decided against it and just go back.

"I will see you," I nodded as I walked out of there.

I lived at the family house only till my primary school. I was sent abroad after I started to get "crazy", it was after the... accident.

I came back to India for my high school and attended a lot of schools. I had to change the schools frequently because of my behaviour.

I was homeschooled in between too. I was really uncontrollable until I met Jay, the person who found out my secret and helped me, for the first time in life.

He didn't run away, he didn't blackmail me or ask money like the people who found out. He stayed with me and encouraged me to control it.

If it was not for him, I don't know in what shape I would be today.

I walked to the car. My eyes swept over the small slope to the side where bright yellow flowers were moving in the wind.

It blocked the view to the outdoor pool that laid behind it.

My heartbeats accelerated.

Arnav...

I cannot visit you... I know that I am a bastard, but I can't do that.

I hope you are resting in peace.

I hurried away but it was too late to block out the sound of water from my mind.

The accident came to my mind, the horrible sound of water and the way it engulfed me was still fresh in my mind like it had happened yesterday.

By the time I was back in the car, I was already shivering slightly.

No... don't... don't go there...

Don't think about it...

I took out the anti-anxiety drug and swallowed it.

I drive out of there as soon as possible.

Every time I came here, I needed to take a pill to calm myself down.

To think that I loved this place once upon a time was beyond me. To think that my family was a normal happy one once upon a time too feel absurd now.

It looks like all the happiness and joy in this world was taken away by Arnav Kashyap, My brother who drowned in the pool while saving me.

My brother, who was my hero and role model, the brother, I worshipped, the brother... I killed...

It would have been Brother Arnav, breathing this air if he hadn't tried to save me from the pool and got killed instead.

So in a way, I started becoming crazy by stealing my brother's life.

-------------------------

Hi guys,

So a glimpse to everyone's family and life, hope you understand the characters a little more.

I didn't go through the chapter, I hope there is no major mistakes...apart from the "cringe-worthy grammar".

****The sign "##" before the chapter number means it's Flashback****