The next day, Ayaan told Maan everything.

"Tu paagal hai kya?" Maan said, "Koi aisa karta hai? Bhai ka laptop tod diya? Woh to Mihir bhai the isliye thoda sa daat ke bhaga diya, warna koi aur Hota na to do thappad lagata wahi."

Ayaan glared at his best friend. "Maine tujhe sab isliye nahi Bolta taaki tu bhi mujhe daate."

Maan-"Nahi to kya, tareef karu teri? Sach mai, Mihir bhai ne tujhe zyada hi choot de rakhi hai."

Ayaan-"Ab bas bhi kar, itna bhi mat suna mujhe. Uff, pata nahi kyu Maine tujhe apna dost bana rakha hai. Jab dekho mujhe daat ta rehta hai."

Maan-"Kyuki aur koi aapki bewakoofiyaan sehan nahi karega, isliye."

Ayaan glared at him, sulking.

Maan, shaking his head-"Zyada muh mat bana. Bhai ko bhi sorry bolde bas, konsa wo tujhse naraaz reh sakte hai."

Ayaan, agitated-"Aaj subah hi jaane wala tha sorry bolne ke liye yaar, lekin bhaiya to mere uthne se pehle hi office Nikal gaye!"

Maan-"To kya hua, shaam mai bolde." He looked at his best friend. "Koi aur baat hai kya, Ayaan? Itna kyu upset hai tu? Pehle to tune isse bhi bade kaand kiye hai, lekin itna kabhi nahi sochta tha."

Ayaan did not answer. What could he say, when he himself was not sure about the problem? For some reason, Rashmi's words from yesterday kept revolving in his head. He had dismissed her words then, but now they refused to leave him alone. He did not like the questions they raised, the doubts they put into his mind.

Maan sighed. "Jo bhi hai, bhai se baat karle... Jab tak tu baat nahi karega, tujhe sukoon nahi hoga. Okay?"

Ayaan nodded, even though in truth, he had no idea how to even put his doubts into words! What could he possibly say to Mihir?

*

"Aur Kar ghado ki tarah kaam," Ahil said, sitting down in the chair opposite Mihir.

Mihir glared at him. Sometimes, Ahil's ability to read him like a book was really annoying.

Mihir-"Main theek hoo."

Ahil-"Dikh raha hai, kitna theek hai. I'm sure tera Kal ka Sar dard bhi abhi nahi gaya hoga. Haina?"

Mihir chose not to answer.

Ahil shook his head at him. "Seriously, Mihir, tu aaj kal kuch zyada hi kaam kar raha hai. Aur aaj bhi lunch nahi kiya. I know it's a tense situation for the company right now, but you can't do this. Take care of yourself. Aaj ghar jaldi chala jaa, okay?"

Mihir sighed and nodded. He knew Ahil was right. 

Ahil-"Aur mujhe pata hai tera man bhi nahi lagega...I'm sure tera poora dhyaan Ayaan pe hi hai abhi."

Again, Ahil was right. Mihir wanted to talk to his brother. Regardless of how small or big his argument might be with Ayaan, Mihir was always restless if there was anything unresolved between them at all.

Mihir sighed. "I shouldn't have yelled at him, yaar...work ka frustration maine uspe nikaal diya."

Ahil-"It's okay, Mihir. It's not that big of a deal. Ayaan baccha thodi na hai...he'll understand."

Mihir shook his head-"That's the thing, Ahil. He is still a child with me. He is very sensitive...abhi bhi har choti cheez ko bohot seriously le leta hai...he doesn't let go...that's the thing."

Mihir was silent for a moment. "Aur mai chahta bhi nahi ki wo kabhi change ho...I always want him to be a kid only with me. He can grow up for the world, lekin mere liye to wo hamesha mera baccha hi rahega. Isliye mai bas...kabhi use hurt nahi karna chahta kisi tarah se bhi, chahe kitni bhi choti baat ho...He does things like this all the time, lekin is baar i didn't handle it well."

Ahil shook his head. "It's fine, Mihir. You're allowed to be human once in a while. Tu zyada soch raha hai. Just talk to him, okay?"

Mihir nodded.

Ahil-"Aur tu kitni tension leta hai Ayaan ko leke, wo to sabko pata hai. You cannot spoil that boy more even if you try. Seriously, you're such a motherhen."

Mihir narrowed his eyes at him-"Haa, aur tu to apne bhaiyo ko bilkul nahi bigaadta, haina? Bilkul unhe pamper nahi karta?"

Ahil shrugged-"Nahi bhai, mai to Teri tarah bilkul nahi hoo."

Mihir smiled, sitting back in his chair,-"Oh really? Don't you still cook for Maan all the time? Aur Maan ko chod, Rehan is 23, he's a police officer, lekin tu abhi bhi uske liye uski pasand ka khana hamesha banata hai na?"

Abir threw his hands up. "Okay, fine, whatever. Chup kar ab."

Mihir shook his head with a smile. Ahil could pretend to be 'cool' all he wanted, the truth was he fussed over his siblings just as much as Mihir did! And that, actually, was what they had connected about during the early days of their friendship-they both loved their family beyond everything else.

*

Ayaan sat quietly in his room. He was agitated. He had gone to Mihir's office after college with the intention of saying sorry to his brother, and putting all other stupid thoughts out of his head. But he had stopped when he had heard Mihir talking to Ahil about him.

"It's okay, Mihir. It's not that big of a deal. Ayaan baccha thodi na hai...he'll understand."

"That's the thing, Ahil. He is still a child with me. He is very sensitive...abhi bhi har choti cheez ko bohot seriously le leta hai...he doesn't let go...that's the thing."

Ayaan had been stunned to hear those words from Mihir's mouth. Was that what his brother really thought of him? Not feeling like he could bear hearing anything else, he had turned around and left immediately.

Was it really true then? Was he too childish, too clingy with his brother? Was he a burden to Mihir? Ayaan couldn't understand. He had never had this feeling before. He had always felt secure in his brother's love for him, always demanded everything from Mihir without a moment's hesitation. But now...he suddenly wasn't sure of his place, and he hated it.

Ayaan was pulled out of his gloomy thoughts by the door of his room opening. Mihir entered.

Ayaan was strangely glad to see him. He had not realized that some tiny part of him had began irrationally wondering if his brother would come at all.

Before Mihir could even say anything, Ayaan blurted out-"I'm sorry, bhaiya. Kal mujhe aapko pareshan nahi karna chahiye tha. I'm really sorry, aage se nahi karunga."

Mihir smiled at him gently. He came sit down in front of him. "You realize teri galti kya thi?" he asked.

Ayaan nodded rigorously. "Haa bhaiya, I know I disturbed you at the wrong time. And I'm really sorry. Aage se aisa nahi karoonga, promise," he said, taking Mihir's hand and holding it in his own.

Mihir smiled at him. His baby brother was really the cutest. "That's okay, kiddo. And I'm sorry, too, that you got upset yesterday...But be more mindful in the future, okay? Har Jagah ek rocket ship ki tarah mat uda kar."

Ayaan-"Nahi karoonga, bhaiya. Mai bas Kal aapko apni painting dikhana chahta tha, isliye..." He gestured towards his artwork.

Mihir-"Dekhi maine painting. It's beautiful." Ayaan smiled. "Lekin teri internship ko abhi bohot time hai. Don't forget your studies and just focus on that, okay?"

Ayaan rolled his eyes. "Haa, haa, padhai bhi kar looonga don't worry."

Just then Mihir's phone started ringing.

Mihir-"I have to take this. Tu fresh hoke neeche aaja, I'll make something for us to eat, okay?" He got up to leave.

Ayaan, on an impulse-"Bhaiya?"

Mihir turned back to him.

Ayaan stared at him, not quite knowing what to say. Finally he just smiled and said, "I'm really glad aap mere saath ho."

Mihir looked at him quizzically. Something was up with his brother. Silencing his ringing phone, he asked, "Sab theek hai, Ayaan?"

Ayaan just shrugged. "Ab hai."

Mihir nodded, though he was still a bit confused. He ruffled Ayaan's hair affectionately. "Okay, come on now, ab ye sab chod, neeche aaja." He left.

Ayaan felt much better. He was just being silly earlier, he decided. Mihir loved him a lot, and he was sure he would never have to feel insecure about that. So he told himself to forget about his apprehensions. He had the best brother in the world, and he should be grateful for it, not doubt it!

*

What do you think will happen now?

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