"bhai aap shaadi kab kar rahe ho?" Aarav questioned

Vikram was left speechless hearing his question. He stared at him and Aarav raised his eyebrows few times "bolo bhai?" 

"wo.." he didn't knew what to reply. Just then the manager stepped inside and looked at Aarav with teary eyes. 

"Sir.. aap aise.." he just couldn't believe his eyes. Aarav looked towards him bewildered. Vikram hands him the file and signaled him to not to create any doubts in his mind. Manager left in a minute and Vikram was ready to answer the question which Aarav was about to shoot in front of him. 

Aarav asked him "bhai har koi mujhse mil raha hai toh aankh mein aansu kyun hai?" 

Vikram looked at him silently. It is because he was living in his childhood for 6 years and lost all hopes of him getting recovered, especially after what happened in the mental asylum. 

Aarav asked "kitne mahino baad main hosh mein aaya hun bhai?" 

"Aaru tujhe pata hai na kitna maara tha unn gundo ne tujhe.. purani baatein mat kar bata yahan kyun aaya tu mere mana karne ke baad bhi" he tries to diver the topic.

Aarav forwards the tiffin and keeps it on the table "aapka tiffin.. " 

"tu kyun laaya?" he asked

"bore ho raha tha main ghar mein baithe baithe.. koi kuch karne hi nahi deta hai mujhe Maria Di ke alawa sab staff naya hai ghar mei.. mujhe apne hi ghar mein acha nahi lag raha" Aarav complained. 

 Vikram got up and moved to him. He sits on the table and held his hand. Aarav looked up at him and Vikram smiled "Aaru janta hun main bahut kuch badal gaya hai lekin tu aur main toh ab bhi wahi hai na itna kaafi nahi hai tere liye haan?" 

"haan lekin.." he said

"no lekin apni tabiyat ek dum thik karle phir office wapas join kar lena thik hai" Vikram said tapping his cheek as this will keep him away from all the thoughts and questions. 

"kal se karlun? please" he said innocently. 

Vikram pointed toward the bandage on his head "ye abhi uthri nahi hai samjhe tum! jabtak tumhara doctor mujhe green signal nahi dega main tumhe ghuse nahi dunga office mei" 

Aarav looked at him with narrowed eyes "bhai aap bahut zyada over protective ho gaye ho mujhe leke" he said

Vikram doesn't know how to explain to him what had happened in the past 6 years. It was too painful to describe. 

"tujhe toh rehti hai nahi apni fikar toh mujhe karni padti hai.. chal ab ghar" Vikram said

"aap kaam karo main chala jaunga" He replied

"pahuchke phone karna" Vikram said

Aarav agreed and left the office. He sits inside the car and the driver headed off towards the bungalow. Aarav asked "Aapka naam kya hai?" 

"ji Raghu" he replied

 "Raghu ji.. aap mujhe batayenge aap kabse kaam kar rahe ho bhaiya ke liye" he questioned him. 

"sir ek..sa.." he paused and correctly himself "ek mahina sir" 

"acha! aapki shaadi hui hai?" he asked

 "ji Sir do bache bhi hai mere" He replied

"aur ek mere bhai hai abtak ek girlfriend bhi nahi patayi hai unhone.. meri naak hi katake rakhi hai unhone" Aarav spoke

The driver smiled hearing him. The car stops in front of the bungalow and Aarav gets into the house.  

He looked for his phone but couldn't find it "Maria Di mera phone kaha hai?" he asked

"aap landline se phone kar lijiye aapka phone toh accident mei" she replied

Aarav nodded in yes, he picked up the landline receiver and tried to recall his number but failed. 

"sirf ek mahina hi hospital mein tha main bhai ka number kaise bhool sakta hun" he thought. He tried to remember again places a bit pressure on his brain and dialed it. 

"bhai main pahuch gaya hun" he said 

"thik hai aur chup chap room mein jaake baithoge tum idhar udhar masti kare dikha na shyam ko aake haath pair todunga tere" Vikram warned him.

Aarav made a face "okay.." he agreed and ends the call.

Aarav moved to his bedroom and sat down on the bed holding the cushion in his hand. He was getting bored, he got off the bed and headed toward Vikram's room.

The room was different, he opens the wardrobe and tires to find something good to wear. He sees a photo album under the stack of clothes. He picked it up and flipped the pages, he admired seeing the childhood pictures. He flipped further and there was a picture of him with Poonam. He was about to see it but stopped when he heard "Aaru" 

Aarav turned and saw Vikram standing there. He came to him and snatched the album from his hand "mere kamre mein kya kar raha hai tu?" he asked placing the album back

"bhai wo mere kapde ek hi mahine mei dull ho gaye hai.. toh socha aapki almirah se le lun kuch stylish sa.." Aarav replied

"tujhe shopping pe jaana hai toh seedha bol aise bahane mat bana" Vikram said

Aarav hugged him from behind and stared at the album which Vikram clearly diverted away from his sight. 

Vikram stared at him "ab khada kya hai.. jaake coffee bana mere liye main aata hun change karke" he said

"ji bhai" Aarav agreed and moved out of the room. Vikram removes the photo album and hides it as he knows Aarav will again try to look for it. 

He changed and moved downstairs. He settles on the couch and Aarav gets the coffee for him. He sits down beside him and asked "bhai aap mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho na?" 

Vikram stared at him and smiled "Aaru.." 

"mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai main bahut kuch bhool gaya hun.. aap mujhe pehle jaise nahi lag rahe ho.. office mein bhi sab alag hai! bolo bhai please" he requested holding his hand tightly. 

"Aaru.. kuch nahi bhoola hai tu" he denied

"bhai mai.." he grabbed his head tightly as it began to pain. Vikram kept the coffee mug and held his hand "Aaru.. kya hua?"

"sar dard.." 

Vikram glared at him angrily, he got his medicine and asked him to eat it. He takes the medicine and Vikram presses his head lightly "Shant ho jaa.. mana kiya hai na doctor ne deemag pe zor nahi dena hai tujhe bilkul bhi" he said softly

"bhai.. sach bolo kitna samay hua hai" Aarav asked with teary eyes. 

Vikram takes a deep breath, not for long he can hide the truth from him. He held his hand and squeezed it a bit.  Aarav felt dizzy due to the medicine, he closed his eyes and Vikram made him lie on the couch properly. 

Vikram called Dr. Dheer and informed him about Aarav's condition. Dr. Dheer listened and suggested "Vikram usey ye batana bahut zaroori hai ki yeh 2017 nahi 2023 hai" 

"lekin doctor wo phir mujhse aur sawal karenga.. jiska jawab main nahi de paunga use" he replied

"Vikram sach jitna bhi kadvaa ho use kehna hi padta hai! jab tumhe lage wo ye sach samajh sakta hai handle kar sakta hai bada dena.. aur agar unn sawalo se use door rakhna hai toh kaam mein use busy kardo" doctor suggested

Vikram agreed and ended the call. The next morning, Aarav woke up from sleep. He finds himself sleeping on the couch. 

Vikram placed the milk on the table and said "jaldi se fresh ho jaa dudh peele aur mere saath office chal" 

Aarav's face lights up hearing him "sachi?" 

"Haa.. Mr. Aarav Malhotra be on time!" Vikram said and ruffled his hair. 

Aarav immediately got up and rushed upstairs to his room. He quickly gets ready for the office, he sighs deeply as the shirt doesn't fit him anymore "bhai koi bhi shirt mujhe fit nahi ho rahi hai" 

"t-shirt pehenke aa jaata jaate hue tujhe shopping karwa dunga" Vikram shouted

Aarav agreed and moved downstairs. He quickly ate the breakfast and ran out of the house. He sat inside the car and Vikram eyed him from outside. "kya baat hai bhai? baitho na car mei.." he said

"car tum nahi chala rahe ho" Vikram refused

Aarav made a face "bhai..." 

"hospital leke jau tujhe?" Vikram said sarcastically

Aarav moved to the other side and Vikram got inside the car. "sadu.." he murmured. Vikram smiled hearing his words. First, he drove to the shop and Aarav purchased clothes for himself. 

Aarav notices a beautiful saree, he asks the shopkeeper to pack it. Vikram asked "ye kiske liye?" 

"bhabhi maa ke liye" Aarav replied

Vikram was left stunned hearing him "kya kaha tune?" 

Aarav also didn't know why he said that. Aarav looked at him blankly "matlab.. jab aap bhabhi laoge toh unhe dunga na.. pata toh hai na aapko maine kitna kuch khareedke rakha hai unke liye" 

Vikram smiled hearing a bit. 

Mumbai

Poonam had been craving for ice-cream and it was midnight 2 pm. She woke from sleep and went to Shruti's room. She shook her hard and tried to wake her up "uth Shruti... uth!" 

Shruti got up from sleep with a jerk "kya hua? is it time?" 

Poonam glared at her "Abhi 4 mahine baaki hai! mujhe ice-cream khani hai jaake leke aa mere liye" she demanded

Shruti made a face "kya yaar Poonam! tune toh mujhe apna pati samajhke rakha hai.. daanti hai tang karti hai mujhe" 

"bakwaas mat kar leke aa" she yelled at her.

"haan thik hai laati hun" Shruti agreed and moved out of the room taking the car key. 

She began to cry as she was missing Vikram "Tum kyun nahi ho mere saath Vikram.... I hate you for doing this to me" She picked up the tissue box and wiped tears from her eyes. 

Shruti returns in half an hour and gives the icecream to her "yeh lo" 

"nahi chahiye mujhe ab" Poonam refuses to eat. Shruti was left with an open mouth. 

"toh kya chahiye tujhe?" She asked

"meetha leke aa" Poonam demanded

Shruti drops on the bed "yeh ladki mujhe paagal kar degi.." 

"jaa na" Poonam slapped her arm. 

Shruti agreed and went to get sweets for her. Poonam places the cushion on her belly "I am missing you Vikram.. tumhe yeh sab krna chahiye mere liye naaki iss paagal ko" 

She picked up her phone and there was a picture of her with him. She caressed it and recalled the moments she had spent with him. 

Shruti returned with sweet and handed it to her. Shruti sat beside her and she places her head on her shoulder. Shruti caressed her head lightly.