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.
Yash's eyes blazed at that while Agni clenched his eyes shut. He had never been the one to skip meals but those moments of teenage rebellion where he had skipped, correction: tried to skip meals, was clear as day. The aftermath never ended well for his poor soul.
When he opened his eyes, he found Yash sitting next to him, gently blowing the soup in the spoon. His eyes misted at the familiar sight. Irrespective of how harshly he was punished, his brother always made sure to feed him with his own hands.
"Eat." he instructed as he brought the spoon close to his lips.
Even the bland soup tasted like the most delicious dish in the world. His brother's hand had some peculiar magic. He could make the food tasty just by touching it.
Once done with feeding him the soup, Yash kept a small table on the bed and placed the plate full of apples on it.
"You better finish this in the next ten minutes, Agni." he said sternly.
Agni nodded obediently, like a 15 year-old who was treading on very thin ice.
"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
He didn't need to elaborate for Yash to understand what he meant.
"Yes. I don't like repeating myself." he said with an edge of firmness.
Agni's face fell as he heard the distant response.
"Aap lene nahi aaoge?" he asked, like his 5 year-old self who always urged Yash to pick him up from his friend's place.
Yash's heart melted at the innocence in his voice. His eyes softened as he looked down at his little brother. For a moment, he could see nothing beyond those innocent eyes that gazed at him. But then, he reminded himself that this was the same boy who broke his trust into pieces beyond repair.
"I have an important meeting." he said and stood up.
"Nahi jaunga driver ke saath."
Yash glared dangerously at him, nearly making him cower back. Nearly.
"Care to repeat that?"
"I won't come if you don't pick me up yourself."
"Agni." Yash started sternly. "If you know what's good for you, you won't cross me on this."
"Kya kar loge aap? Maaroge?" he teased his brother. "Maaro!"
Yash's eyes blazed but Agni smiled, knowing full well that his brother can't touch him with so many injuries sitting on his body.
"Jab shaam ko maarne aaoge toh mujhe ghar bhi drop kar dena."
Yash gave him one last angry look before storming out of the room. Agni laughed heartily at his brother's plight. Yash Jindal was turning into a meanie. Time to set him straight!
"So let me get this straight." Rey said. "You want to sneak out of the house?"
Kian nodded.
"In the middle of the night."
He nodded again.
"To go bike racing."
He nodded vigorously.
Reyansh nodded seriously before scanning him from head to toe with an urgent look on his face.
"What?" Kian couldn't help but ask.
"No...nothing." he shook his head. "Umm, did you fall down your bed last night?"
Kian gave him a confused look, "No?"
"You think you hit your head somewhere?" he pestered him.
Kian gave him an irritated glare. "Rey!"
"It must have been pretty hard if you don't even remember it." Rey concluded.
"Buzz off!" Kian said as he stood up.
"No, I mean...really bro? This is like signing your own death note! Yash bhai will bury you alive under the same racing arena!"
"Too graphic." Kian commented as he continued walking.
"You know he's too big on this security thing. You are like breaking all the rules in place with this one stunt!" he tried to drive some sense into the boy.
"Don't scare me if you can't help me." Kian grumbled moodily.
"I am warning you, Kian. Trust me, you won't like the consequences."
"Right. As if I am gonna get caught!" Kian smirked.
Rey shook his head.
"He's the Yash Jindal, Kian! Trust me when I say it, nothing ever escapes his eyes."
"And how do you know that Mr. Know-it-all?" Kian asked with a roll of his eyes.
"You know he and Bhaiya are very good friends, right?" Rey said as if it explained everything.
"I bet he's never raised his voice at you!"
"Oh he's raised much more than his voice, Kian. I was 8 when bhaiya had to travel to-and-fro between Delhi and Mumbai for his symposiums, so I had practically lived in the Jindal Mansion. Trust me, I was no goody two shoes and your brother was no saint to keep up with my shenanigans."
Kian looked at him intrigued. "What did he do?"
"You don't want to know, bro." he said, his cheeks turning red in embarrassment. "Just know that it's not something you would ever want to experience."
He frowned but did not press. Over the span of one month, they had formed an admirable bond. Enough to know that if Reyansh Singhania hesitated over something then it must be something very scary!
Before he could say something further, his eyes fell on Kuhu who was walking out of the infirmary with a BANDAGED WRIST! He swiftly walked towards her, followed by Rey.
"Kuhu!" he exclaimed as he took her hands in his'. "Ye kya hua?"
Kuhu looked at him with wide eyes as he examined her from head-to-toe.
"I asked you a question, Kuhu!" he exclaimed wooriedly.
"Kian relax! Let her speak." Rey interrupted. His friend was very protective over whatever he called his. "Bolo Kuhu."
"I...fell." she said and looked down.
"Ye 2 words bolne me itna time lagta hai?" he asked. "Are you hiding something?"
She quickly shook her head in a no.
"Let go, big b! You're hurting me." she wiggled her wrist out of his grasp.
Kian looked at her suspiciously. "You sure?"
She nodded before pouting. "Don't get mad at me."
He sighed and gave her a small grin.
"I am sorry. I guess I just panicked." he scratched the back of his head.
"You scolded me." she pointed out, her pout growing.
"Very bad, big b!" Rey imitated her tone. "Make it up to her and get her an ice-cream."
Kian smiled as he saw Kuhu's face light up.
"I guess I'll hurry up. Just 10 minutes for the recess to get over."
Kuhu gave him a big smile, making his day.
As Agni settled into the back seat of Yash's car, he winced slightly as the bumps in the road reminded him of his injuries. Yash glanced back at him with a mix of concern and anger.
"Try not to move too much." Yash said, his voice firm but laced with an underlying worry.
"Yeah, because sitting still is my specialty right now," Agni replied, sarcasm dripping from his words. "What's next? You'll tell me to stop breathing too?"
Yash rolled his eyes. He was purposely trying to rile him up. "Just focus on not getting any more broken bones. That's all I'm asking."
Agni chuckled, despite the pain. "You know, if I had known this was how you'd treat me after a near-death experience, I might have considered staying in that hospital bed a little longer."
"You have no one but yourself to thank for this. What were you thinking, going off to such a place without any backup?" he scolded him.
Agni looked outside the window. He might have underestimated his enemies but he nearly managed on his own.
"Don't for a moment think that you could've survived without my intervention." Yash burst his bubble.
Agni rolled his eyes. "How did you get to know about my whereabouts?"
Yash completely ignored his question, focusing on the road ahead.
"I asked you a question."
"And I decided to not give you an answer."
Agni huffed in annoyance. If this was any sign of his future days with his brother, then he better brace himself.
"You can't ever give me a direct answer, can you?"
"No." he admitted without remorse. "Look at you, acting all mighty when you're nothing but a pile of injuries."
"I am not a pile of injuries! I'm a warrior! A gladiator! A--"
"A drama queen." Yash completed for him. "Now shut up for the rest for the ride or I'll take the bumpy road."
You wouldn't dare, Agni had wanted to say but kept quiet. No risking his neck with him.
As he parked the car in the garage, he glanced back at him, all the playfulness disappearing.
"One more thing, Agni. I don't want you to deal with your...businesses while under this roof. You will mind your actions within these four walls."
Agni did not say anything. He couldn't make promises that were meant to be broken. But he'll try his best, for his family.
Yash did not press. He just hoped that Agni would give it a try.
He exited the car and moved to Agni's side. He opened the door and offered a hand, his expression still stern. Agni hesitated for a moment, then took Yash's hand, wincing as he shifted his weight. Each movement sent jolts of pain through his body.
Yash's heart ached at the sight of him. He could feel the same pain as him, each wince of his, a reminder of his own incapability. If only, he could have made it to the damned place a few moments earlier...
As they stepped inside, Agni was immediately hit by a wave of nostalgia. The familiar scent of home, faint traces of old books and earthly scent of wet soil from the backyard. Memories flooded back, late-night study sessions at the kitchen table, laughter echoing through the hallways during family game nights, and even quieter moments spent on the couch watching movies together. They used to live each moment to the fullest.
"Yash!" Avni exclaimed as she walked towards him. "Everything ok? How come you're home so---Oh my god!"
As her eyes fell on Agni, her surprise morphed into concern.
"Are you okay? You look terrible!"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Agni replied dryly. Against his better judgement, he was still wary of the lady.
Avni ignored the sarcasm. "Bring him to the couch, Yash. He's in no condition to stand."
Agni just rolled his eyes but his brother took the advice seriously.
"Where are the kids?" Yash asked.
"Homework." she replied. "Want me to call them?"
"Of course!" Agni chimed in. "What do you think?"
"I think you must keep quiet for a while, mister." she scolded him.
Agni raised his eyebrow at her but she disappeared up the staircase. He looked at Yash.
"Is she always so bossy?"
"Better make a habit out of it." he said with a shrug.
"What was that?" he teased him. "Don't tell me you are scared of her!"
"Shut up! Don't talk this nonsense if front of the kids."
"Or else?"
"They'll see their bhaiyu being dragged back to his place." he deadpanned.
"Bhaiyu!" Kuhu exclaimed, her eyes widening at the sight of him. Kuhu dashed across the room and leaped onto the couch, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Agni winced at the sudden pressure on his broken ribs but couldn't help but return the embrace.
"Hey!" he said, stifling a wince.
Yash gently pulled her back. "Your bhaiyu is hurt, Kuhu. No more running wild around him, you get me?"
Kuhu nodded scared.
"Darao mat aap usse." Agni protested as he pulled her next to himself.
Just then, Kian entered into the room, his expression shifting from excitement to shock as he spotted Agni on the couch.
"What the hell happened to you?" he blurted out in disbelief.
"Nice to see you too," Agni replied dryly, trying to keep the mood light despite the pain that flared up with every movement.
"Language Kian." Yash chided.
"Sorry." he mumbled. He had completely missed Yash's presence.
"Cut him some slack?" Agni retorted on his behalf.
Yash was about to give him a piece of his mind when his eyes fell on Kuhu's hand.
"What happened to your wrist, Kuhu?" he asked concerned.
Agni too turned his attention towards the same direction and panic set in.
Quick update, yayyy! What do you think happened to Kuhu? Did she really 'just' fall down or there's something else bothering her?
We got some much needed Agni-Yash scenes. What do you wish to see next?
Remember to vote and comment!