Ardaas- For A Family

Agni winced loudly as he turned to his side. His body was killing him! Last night, with all the adrenaline running in him, he did not feel the pain of those mean punches and kicks. But now, as he laid on the hospital bed with some 20 broken ribs, a set of fractured leg and arm and multiple bruises on his body, he certainly felt the pain.

"Agni." Malhar called out, sympathetically. "Is it hurting too much?"

"Not at all." Agni couldn't help the sarcasm. "It's the best feeling."

"Cut that sass, Agni. I am taking you to my place." Malhar said crossly.

"That's not needed." he said at once. "I am totally fine. I'll just appoint a nurse or something."

"You'll let in a stranger in that shabby apartment of yours but you won't come to my house?" Malhar asked, hurt.

"Cut the dramatics, Malhar. You know that's not what I mean." he said as he turned towards him.

"Then kindly elaborate." he challenged.

"You have a family, man! I don't want to be an inconvenience."

"A family is exactly what you need at this moment, AJ!" he snapped but instantly regretted as he saw the hurt in Agni's eyes.

Agni looked away. The statement felt like a sharp knife twisted through his guts.

"Agni...I am sorry. I didn't mean it that way." he tried to clarify.

"I know." he said with a sigh. "Let it be, Malhar."

Before Malhar could protest, the door swung open, revealing Yash who stood there rigid with hands in his pockets and a neutral look on his face. Malhar immediately stood up but Yash didn't grace him with a look. Instead, he slightly inclined his head in his direction.

"Out."

As soon as the word left his mouth, Malhar was on his feet, almost sprinting out of the room. Agni masked his shock and looked at his brother with a done look on his face.

Yash finally looked in his direction, scanning him from head to toe before looking away once again.

"Aap yaha?" he asked him. He would be shocked if he was here to check on him!

"You are coming home." he said without making any eye contact but his tone left no room for arguments.

If the prior would have shocked him, then this flabbergasted him. He pinched his already fractured arm to see if he was dreaming.

Yash looked in his direction when he heard him stifling a wince. He raised an eyebrow at him.

"The discharge formalities are already done. Just a few more tests and you can come home by evening." he repeated the doctor's words.

"But bhaiya, I can't come. I don't want to be an incon---" Yash cut him off.

"Let me rephrase, Agni. You will come home by this evening. The driver will be here to pick you up at sharp 4. Better be ready or you won't like what happens next."

With that said, he turned around to go. Before Agni could protest, a nurse stepped in with a tray of soup and fruits. Her eyes twinkled at the sight of Yash.

"Sir, are you his family?" she asked hopefully.

Yash stiffened at the question. He could already feel Agni's gaze burning his back. 

He nodded his head, making the nurse almost thrust the tray in his hands.

"Sir please make him drink this soup. He hasn't eaten a thing since he woke up." she complained, throwing Agni under the bus.