Bonds

10-FUTILE EFFORTS?

I inspect his retreating figure, trying to figure out the reason behind his extra-stiff body structure. Hands in pocket instead of replying to the mails, fazed hair on the back side, lucid pointer of him being distressed.

Yet there is no justification for his actions.

He was harsh-too harsh. He took away their most precious things from them. How can he be this cruel? He very well knows how these three spend most of their leisure time with their hobbies. Extra training, less pocket money, and car washing are all understandably fathomable. However, him keeping them away from things they enjoy the most is all too much. And no music classes for Ojas, knowing well Ojas has been waiting for his biggest music competition that some NGO organizes in the city, and anyone with an age above fifteen can fill out the form, which he will be before the same. And he addressed him as Ojaswat. Ojaswat. Even the tone while addressing him was indifferent.

What is wrong with you, Ethi? For someone who cannot bear a single frown on his brother's forehead, you left your lifelines teary-eyed. Do not do what I believe you are doing.

I need to have a proper chat with him. A long one.

"We are going to school." Kul's brings me out.

"Your breakfast." Adik asks, handling the veggie sandwiches wrapped in foil paper so that they can have them in the car.

"We are not hungry, Bhai. We are getting late." Ojas refuses to look at any of us. Kul and Nil are tailing him behind.

"I support them, Aksh." Adik states.

"I do as well, but nothing justifies their irrationality and recklessness to be in that place."

"What do you suggest we do now? The punishment was excessively severe." He probes.

"Wait." This response earns me the 'are you an idiot' look. So I clarify further.

"Wait until Ethi sedates."

"Hm. Also, why are you dressed for the office?"

"I have a meeting. My P.A. has ruined it; hence, I got it rescheduled." I reply, annoyance keeps increasing with each and every word I speak.

"Oh, are we talking about THE secretary here?" Can I kill him? For wiggling his eyebrows.

"Fuck off." He chuckles.

"I am going to check on Viti."

"Okay."

"Have fun with The secretary. Bye." He teases, running to the stairs.

"Sir, your cereal is kept at the table." Ah, breakfast. I have lost my appetite after such a beautiful morning. Note the sarcasm.

Viti is also sleeping. I wish she could hug me like she did to Ojas and Ethi; this day would have been the best day of my life despite of its shitty beginning.

Anyways.

I leave for the office, gathering all the files I need. I am really suppressing my urge to bang my secretary's head against the nearest wall. She could not do even one single job of confirming the property deal to open a new club. She had ruined that too. Idiot, stupid.

"The property is mine. Now you have two options: either sign it willingly, or I can make you sign it to me willingly and get it for absolutely no money." I say, gesturing to my secretary to put forward the property papers along with the cheque with my signature on it.

"Mr. Singh,"

"It seems like you prefer the second option. No problem." He is asking an unreasonable price for this shitty property. I will have to spend crores on interiors and construction. There is a club built on it, but the interiors are so cheap that I will have to reconstruct them as well.