Thank you so much for your response on previous chapter as well as on suggestions

One thing to clarify, I am not in any hurry to end this book at least not as of now. I wanted to end the current track ASAP because I am having hell lot of ideas which can only work once things are better.

Target
Votes: 130
Comments: 140

......................................................................

Virat looked at Rohit and shook his head and went after Rahul. Rohit felt it strange but he was still angry that how can Virat allow Rahul to stay in that room. That room belongs to his brother whom he loves from the bottom of his heart.. for whom he is longing since years.. He decided to clearly tell this Virat. He knew Virat went after Rahul so he directly went to Harry's room where they were.  Virat has hid Rahul in a hug and that kid was crying.. quite badly.. Rohit felt bad for him. He did not want shout at Rahul but he cannot give his Chhotu's place to anyone, though he always found an unsaid connection with the kid but still..

Virat: Rah.. bachcha calm down. Main hoon na. Please don't get scared bachcha.

Rahul: I still fear that Vi Bhai. I fear Chhotu

Saying so Rahul snuggled more in the hug. Harry was rubbing his hands which were quite shivering. Rohit was shocked hearing all this.

Rahul (angrily): I can't because I Fear Chhotu

Virat and Harry both were shocked.

Virat: You .. what?

Rahul (emotionally): I Fear Chhotu . Yeh.. yeh word.. yeh naam.. dar lagta hai mujhe isse. I get scared. Ajeeb ajeeb si.. Jaani anjaani si awaaze.. awaaze mere dimag me ghumti rehti hai. Darati rehti hai mujhe woh Vi bhai.

Rohit got some flashes. He was not able to understand why Rahul was fearing Chhotu and if he is fearing then who is Chhotu? And is this Chhotu the same he was longing or this person is someone else? Rohit went from there thinking about all this. He came downstairs in lift and went to his room feeling all dizzy due to flashes he was not able to move on since he got them. He tried hard to remember what those flashes were meant to be. He started getting terrible headache. His vision was getting blurry. He quickly took his medicines as the pain was getting unbearable. He lie down on the bed still was not able to move on from the flashes he got. He didn't know when he slept while still trying to remember why he got those flashes.

On the other side, Virat was finally able to calm Rahul. Rahul was lying down on the bed while keeping his head in Virat's lap. Virat was caressing his hair. Harry was sitting beside them.

Virat: Rah.. mujhe bataoge why did you take sleeping pills when you know they are not helping you much?

Rahul: Bahut thakan lagti hai Vi Bhai. I feel very much tired. Mujhe Sona hota hai lekin.. woh sab..

Virat: Lekin abhi to koi woh nam use nahi kar raha phir kyu?

Harry: Uss din fight ke baad se he was not able to sleep properly Bhai. Abhi bina bole he is getting triggered.. Roz constantly usko nightmares aate hai. Beech me B-Ro sote the to they stopped. Matlab aate the lekin B-Ro ki wajah se they reduced. He was able to feel his warmth.

Virat: Aur parso kyu li thi?

Rahul: Mujhe bahut dar lag raha tha. Woh tune.. darati hai

Virat: Kon si tune Rah?

Rahul: Watchman uncle radio sun rahe the. Usme aayi thi. Mujhe.. mujhe phir se woh sab.. woh sab awaaze aane lagi Vi Bhai. Woh sab .. sab darate hai mujhe. Koi sone nahi deta. Abhi bhi.. dar lag raha hai.

Virat: Vi Bhai hai na bachcha. Don't be scared okay

Rahul nodded in yes clutching Virat's T-shirt.

Virat: Aur kal dopahar ko kya hua tha Rah? Why were you that much hyper? Did you even know you were hyperventilating.

Rahul: I am sorry. Meri wajah se.. mujhe sambhalne ke liye aapka shoulder phir se..

At the end, he broke into tears feeling scared of everything.. He was not able to fight the games his mind was playing. Rahul hugged Virat tightly hiding himself completely and Virat too held him protectively.

Virat mentally connected some dots. He wanted to discuss something very badly with Rahul and he knew he had to talk to him now when his guards are completely down. Virat broke the hug and he gently wiped Rahul's tears. He then placed his hand on Rahul's hand and hold it tightly.

Virat: Ek baat bolu?

Rahul nodded in yes.

Virat: First remember that you are with me. No one can touch you till I am here okay. Koi whisper.. koi flashes nothing can harm you. Your Vi Bhai will protect you.

Rahul nodded in yes while shedding tears. Kid was going through a lot.

Virat: Rah.. I understand bachcha that you get scared whenever you hear that name. Lekin bachcha.. tum usko aise kyu le rahe ho ki woh cheez tumhe darane me kamyab ho jaye?

Rahul looked at him confusingly.

Rahul: Matlab?

Virat: Rah.. bachcha look from the different perspective. If I talk about Ro.. You don't even know Rah how much he has to stop himself from calling you with that name. Usne tumhe uss nam se tab pukara jab tum uske sath comfortable ho gaye the. Rah.. tell me one thing. Agar aap kisi ko kisi ek nam se jante ho aur saalo baad aap unse milte ho lekin woh dusare nam se jana jata hai. To kya aapke liye woh Naya nam wala Banda ban jayega?

Rahul shook his head in no.

Rahul: Insaan thodi na alag hua hai. Woh to same hi hai na. To woh hamare liye to wahi hua na jis nam se hum jante hai unhe.

Virat: Exactly Rah. Now think how much it would be difficult for Ro to not call you with the only name he knew to call his younger brother.

Rahul audibly gasped.

Virat: Rah.. for him, he was calling his younger brother. Now if you think like he is talking about his younger brother or calling his younger brother who is you only, then those voices.. flashes would not be able to scare you. Kyuki..

Rahul: Kyuki apne darate nahi hai. Unke hone se to dar chala jata hai

Virat: Exactly Rah. If you think that Ro is talking to you as for him his.. his Chhotu is none other than you only.

Virat has hold Rahul's hand tightly. Hearing Chhotu, Rahul's breath hitched but he took some deep breaths and fought till he could. But eventually he burst into cry.

Rahul: I am not able to. I am sorry.

He again hugged Virat who again held him protectively.

Virat: It's okay bachcha. It's ok.. it's ok.. it's ok..

Rahul slept while crying only. Virat looked at Harry who himself was having tears in his eyes.

Virat: Harry.. Krunal ke paas Jana hai bachcha?

Harry shook his head in no while tears fell from his eyes.

Harry: No Vi Bhai. Rah ko iss waqt akela nahi chhod sakte. Usko.. usko kafi sari cheese trigger kar rahi hai. Usko khud nahi pata ki kon kon si cheezon se woh trigger hoga. Abhi tak sirf ek word tha ab koi tune .. koi music.. koi gana bhi hai. We can't leave him alone Bhai.

Virat cupped his face.

Virat: Lekin tumhe bhi to dar lag raha hai na? Rah ko aise dekh ke

Harry hugged him crying silently. He was not able to control his tears now. Virat was rubbing his back. He has given a very big task to the kid.

Virat: I am sorry Harry. Apni problems me tumpe kuchh zyada hi responsibility de di

Harry broke the hug and shook his head in no.

Harry: Aap se aur B-Ro se sikha hai dosti kaisi hoti hai. Aap dono Jaan chhidakate ho ek dusare pe. Ek dusare ke liye ek dusare se lad jate ho. Ab itne high standards set kiye hai apne to mujhe aur Rah ko bhi mehnat lagegi na uss level tak pahunchane ke liye

He joked at the end making Virat and himself chuckled. Virat ruffled his hair lovingly.

Virat: I am proud of you Harry

Harry: Pleasure is all mine Bossman. Now tell me how are you?

Virat: Weakness hai but I'll be fine.

Harry nodded in yes.

Harry: Take care

Virat just smiled at him. He then put Rahul's head on the pillow with help of Harry and then kept his Panda and Rabbit beside him. Rahul cuddled to both the toys instantly. Virat smiled at his antics and caressed his hair. He kissed on his forehead.

Harry: Mujhe bhi do

Virat chuckled and kissed on his forehead too and asked him to take some rest. He too was working hard in their mess. Once he was sure that Harry and Rahul both were in deep sleep, he went from there.

Ritz came to check on Rohit in the evening and found him crying hard  looking at the photoframe which was his strength till the time they found about Rahul. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.

Ritz: Ro..

Rohit: I miss him Ritz.

Ritz too had tears in her eyes but she didn't control them this time. She allowed her tears to fall.

Rohit: It feels like.. like a.. like a looser Ritz

Ritz made the hug tighter. She has never ever seen Rohit this much broken.

********************

Anu helped Virat to come to the hall as he was feeling weakness. Ritz and Rohit came out from their room. RohiRat's eyes met. Both got tears in their eyes. Virat could see the longing in his eyes. He knew his best friend needs his brother right now.

Virat: Rah is in the garden sitting in front of his favourite flowers.

Rohit turned to go but Virat stopped him.

Virat: Ro..

Rohit looked at him.

Virat: I am sorry. I should.. I should have been more careful.

Rohit just went from there.

Anu: Sab theek ho jayega Vi.

Virat smiled at her but she could not feel the trust in that smile. It felt like it was a sarcastic one. As if.. as if he was saying nothing is gonna be okay. She shrugged off the thoughts and made him sit on the sofa. Anu went to kitchen to bring water. Ritz was looking at Virat. Virat saw it and smiled at her with tears in his eyes. Ritz gave him a small smile.

Rohit went to garden and found Rahul sitting on the hill top type of area they have kept. Tears were falling from his eyes continuously. He was looking at the flowers they have planted there near the wall. Rohit sat beside him. There was a complete silence for a while.

Rohit: Yeh flowers.. They used to be favourite of my brother..

Rahul looked at him. Rohit was still looking ahead at the flowers only.

Rohit: Pata nahi kya maza aata tha usko lekin jab bhi upset hota tha inhi flowers ko dekhta rehta tha. When he was born na, I was the one who was the most excited one and happy one because now I'll be having someone by my side always. You know when I.. when..

Tears fell from Rohit's eyes.

Rohit: When I hold him for the first time na.. He .. he just held my finger in his tiny fist tightly.

Rohit sobbed. Tears were falling from Rahul's eyes a lot faster than earlier.

Rohit: When he hold my finger na, I promised him to protect him. After all bada bhai hoon uska. Uski raksha karna Haq tha mera aur Farz bhi. These..

He pointed towards the flowers.

Rohit: These were his favorites. Uss time pe to itne paise nahi the ki hum log garden sa kuchh set up kar paye. Usne ek newspaper me dekha tha iss flower ko tab se bas isse hi dekhta tha. Maine na apni.. apni pocket money se bacha ke ek chhota sa plant liya tha uske liye. Uske.. uske first birthday pe gift kiya tha. Itna khush hua tha na woh ki kya batau. As if.. as if he has..

Rahul (chuckling while crying): As if He has won the world cup

Rohit chuckled nodding in yes while still crying. Rahul's situation was similar too.

Rohit: Sara Sara din na woh plastic ke bats aate hai na usko bas swing karta rehta tha. Maine to tab hi soch liya tha ki dono bhai India ke liye khelenge

Rahul for the first time sobbed audibly. Rohit was looking like he was reliving all those mements again and again with his Chhotu.

Rohit: My Chhotu.. My younger brother.. My Everything

When Rahul heard Chhotu, he first got startled but when he saw Rohit was having so much love for his younger brother who is Chhotu and that person was he himself only, he got a bit calmer. He then started focusing on him being his BHAIYA'S CHHOTU than focusing on the games his mind was playing. What Virat has explained him was helping him.

Rohit: He was my world. Subah uthate usko dekhna.. school Jane se pehle uske sath jitna time mile khelna.. school se ane ke baad uske sath khelna.. you know.. jab bhi.. jab bhi main batting karta tha na.. mom ko usko leke window ke paas khada rehna padta tha.. he used to enjoy a lot. Ghar pe to hamesha apni godi me rakhta tha ya phir woh.. woh meri aaju baaju ghumta rehta tha. Rat ko bhi mere paas hi sota tha. You know.. he.. sab se..

He sobbed a little. Rahul hold his arm and put his head on his shoulder. Rohit put his hand on his hold.

Rohit: Sab se.. sab se pehla word uska.. uska "Bhaiya" tha. I.. I miss him.. I miss my Chhotu.

He took a small pause but then continued.

Rohit: Lekin shayad kismat ko yeh manzoor nahi tha. Iss liye to.. usko chhin liya na mujse. Uncle and Aunty have come to meet us. Dad was not earning enough at that time. Uncle was earning enough but they were not able to conceive. Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunty talked and they decided that Uncle and Aunty will adopt Chhotu.

Unknowingly Rahul and Rohit both of theirs hold became tighter.

Rohit: But I protested. Lada main apne Bhai ke liye. Phir.. yeh final hua ki Uncle aur Aunty hamare sath hi rahenge. Woh rahe sab sahi ja raha tha lekin.. lekin again property ke liye issues hone lage Dad and Aunty ke beech. Ek din itna badi ho gayi unki ki they just left.. left with my Chhotu.

There was silence for sometime when the brothers were sinking the significance of the event.

Rohit: I was broken. I fought with everyone but none give me any information about them. Cricket was the only driving force. Lekin Ghar se ground bahut door tha to they sent me to kaka and kaki's house. Main unke sath raha. Mom and dad busy ho gaye Paisa kamane me. Samaj nahi aata ki kismat ko mujse itna pyaar kaise ho gaya ki pehle Chhotu ko chhin liya aur phir.. mom and dad ko bhi..

He said last line sarcastically. There was again silence for sometime.

Rohit: When Vi came in my life, Ritz came.. they both supported me like anything. We all tried to find out about them lekin kaka aur kaki nahi the. Na koi aur jo mujhe bata sakta tha ki Uncle aur Aunty kaha gaye. We faced failure after failure. When we made this house, Ritz and I were sure that one day.. one day our Chhotu will come and maine apne Chhotu ke hisab se pure room ko aise vibrant look dilwaya jaisa uska nature tha. Always happy.. always smiling.

Rahul smirked sarcastically on himself. He himself didn't remember when he was last happy.

Rohit: Iss liye aaj jab tumhe uss room me dekha to.. I just burst out. Aaj bhi apne uss Bhai ka wait hi kar raha hoon. I.. I really don't know kab milega woh mujhe. I am.. I am sorry if you felt bad..

Saying so Rohit got up making Rahul too got up. Rohit composed himself.

Rohit: I just... I just go inside

Rohit started leaving but Rahul hold his hand. Rohit looked at him. Rahul could see the void in his eyes. He could see the longing he has faced similar to what he faced. He was thinking only about his own sufferings till date, but now he was getting to know how Rohit too has suffered. His brother was snatched from him, and then his parents too sent him to their kaka and kaki and after that he was soo alone. He always used to think that he didn't get the love of a family but has Rohit got? No at least not till he got Virat and Ritz in his life. Rahul was not with his family and he used to feel alone but Rohit.. he was having everyone still he was all alone. All were there just for name sake. If Rahul's sufferings were very high, Rohit's was no less. He now understood how much Rohit would have missed him.. how much he must have suffered silently.. and how much he must have been happy when he finally got his brother back but how much it must have taken him to stop himself from bursting his love over him seeing his uncomfort.. and finally when Rahul himself was getting comfortable Rohit couldn't stop himself from showering that love.. showing that happiness.. Rahul remembered the constant smile which used to be there when he used to call him Chhotu. Suddenly today he was not getting scared of that name.. instead he was just able to see the love that name contains. Rohit has just showered his love but what he gave in return? He didn't trust him.. he didn't reciprocate that love much.. he misunderstood him and made the biggest mistake of his life.. He Questioned his Love..

Rahul looked at Rohit with tears falling from his eyes. Rohit was just looking at him. Rahul took a step forward and he just hugged Rohit tightly while crying hard. Rohit though was startled at first but then he too couldn't control me burst into tears.

Rahul: I am sorry Bhaiya.. I am Sorry 😭😭😭

Virat has seen the exchange from his room's window with Mahi. He snuggled into his Mahi bhai's embrass shedding his tears whereas Mahi was just rubbing his back trying to comfort him while shedding his own tears.

Rohit's past has made Rahul realised the depth of love Rohit has for him. He was not just his brother, he has always considered him as his kid. He deserves the same reciprocation of love which he was showering. Today Both brothers just hugged each other and let go of all the fears.. insecurities.. pain.. hurt everything in the form of tears and just felt the warmth and love in that hug.

......................................................................

I was super excited while writing this chapter don't know why but I was.

Your take on how Virat explained Rahul the new perspective

What do you think Virat was mentally calculating?

Your take on RoHul part or Rohit's past

Now I need some suggestions on sad songs like in general sad songs which can be used for family, friends waisa wala not the couple wala.

Kindly share your feedback.

Thanks