“What sort of behaviour is that, Mr. Ishaan?” I shouted at him.
That was really bad. How can he hurt Harsha bro like that? This is too much. I felt bad when I saw bro’s eyes filled with tears. This Ishaan thinks he has the rights to hurt anybody he wish.
“Sorry. Can’t understand.” He said bluntly.
“Don’t act! What was the need to speak with Harsha bro like that?” I asked him angrily.
“Wow. Bro?! You met him a while ago and he has become your bro?” He said.
“Shut up Ishaan. You can’t speak to him like that. He was so hurt. All because of you!!” I said.
“Excuse me, he is my brother. I have all the rights to do anything. Who are you to question me?” He sneered.
“I am your wife! I have all the rights to question you. And it is my duty to take care of my family.” I said in a go.
“Ah! Finally, you said the fact.” He said making me realize what I said.
Damn! I cursed myself under my breath.
“Oh please! Don’t try to divert the topic.” I said.
He smiled at me casually and went from there without replying.
This guy! I just hate him!! He doesn’t respect anyone’s feelings. Initially, he pretended to respect mine, but his true colours are revealed now. Whatever may be the problems between them, he should not have done like that. He should not have.
And how can he smile casually? I just hate myself for starting to trust him. I decided to give him a chance today morning. He had ruined that now. Anyways, I should go and talk to Harsha bro. I don’t know how and why, I feel that Harsha bro is like my own brother. I felt so bad for him. I will talk to him now.
Where did he go? I am searching for bro all while now and he is not to be found.
“Miru. Whom are you searching for?” A voice interrupted my search.
***************************
The moon has risen and the stars were glistening in the sky. The cool breeze couldn’t soothe my hurt heart. I was in the terrace, the favourite part of my home. There’s a secret corner which I had made for me. My failure in my board examination, my love failure (first love), my squabbles with Mom, Dad and Ishaan, the failure of my first film, Dad’s demise and many more. This place had seen it all.
I took a deep breath. Am I such a bad brother to Ishaan that he hates me this much? I know that he didn’t like my profession. He didn’t like the way mine and Ana’s relationship were shaping up, initially either. But now everything is fine. His anger hasn’t reduced a bit. If he is angry on me till now, what was the need to pretend? I felt so so so bad when he said that he pretended to be nice with me. For a second, I thought that everything was fine. I was the happiest man on earth then. But everything shattered within a blink of an eye. A lone tear escaped my eye.
I felt a touch on my shoulder from the back. I turned and there she was. My Ana, with tear-stricken face. Her tear stained cheeks rang an alarm in my mind, shoving away my thoughts.
“Ana. What happened? Why were you crying?” I asked her hastily.
She hugged me tightly and her tears started wetting my shirt. That’s it. I am becoming restless now.
“Ana. Tell me. What happened?” I said stressing each word. She drifted away from me and wiped my tears which hadn’t stopped yet.
“You were crying too. And I know the reason. Ishaan.” She said softly as she wiped her tears.
I gasped. She knew it. Who could have told her? Except for Ishaan and I, none was there. Then how did Ana know? Oh wait! She was there. Mira. She would have told Ana. Damn. Now, I know why Ana is upset. She will blame her now. But it’s not her fault and Ishaan’s either. He is blinded by his anger.
“I… I am… I am sorry Harsha. I wanted to patch up you both… But… Everything has turned upside down. I don’t know why Ishaan did like that. I know Ishaan. Ishaan will not do anything without any reason. But, I don’t know why did he behave with you like that.” She said. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Ssh. Calm down. Why are you crying Darling? It’s not your fault.” I tried to calm down her.
“I am not able to see you hurt, harsha. Like this.” She said sadly.
I wrapped my arms around her as soon as she said this. She hugged me back. It was a kind of solace for me to be in her embrace. This is what I needed now. Time stood still for me. I hugged her tighter. The cool breeze, the moon’s cool rays falling on us and her embrace just made my surroundings fade away for a while.
“Harsha. You sit here. I will be back. I will bring food for us. We both will have our dinner in your corner.” She said smiling faintly. I came out of my corner and started walking around the terrace as she walked away.
I looked at her walking form. Ana. My wife. My soulmate. She is always there for me. She cares for me more than a Mom. I smiled. She has been supportive throughout my acting journey till now. She has managed the wedding works single handed without any grumble. She is the best thing that had ever happened to me.
I found my vision fading away as someone blindfolded me. It was not Ana of course. I could sense it. It was somebody else.
“Who’s this?” I asked. No reply.
“Who the hell are you?” I yelled. This person is testing my patience. I tried pushing the person away from me, but in vain. That person started dragging me somewhere. I tried to get rid of him.
I whacked my brain who could it be.
Suddenly, that person stopped. That person removed my blindfold. I opened my eyes immediately to see who it was. To my wildest shock, there was no one. I was standing at the fav corner of mine.
“Who the hell are you?! You can’t escape from me. You…” My voice trailed off as my face was smeared with a layer of cream.
“WTF!” I muttered.
“Happiiieeee Birthday harshu baby!!” Someone screamed near my ears, making me go deaf.
Wait! Harshu baby?! Is that…? No. It could not be. I don’t want to disappoint myself again.
“Yo bro! It’s me. And it’s real!” I heard. I wiped the cream from my face and there he was. Ishaan.
“Happy happy birthday!” He screeched as he hugged me. I stood numb. What the hell is happening around me?
“How was the surprise?” He asked me raising his eyebrow.
I was unable to react. Is this real?
“I know that what I did was so mean. Sorry for that. I just wanted to surprise you… So I thought, I would do like this. Honestly speaking, I was angry with you initially. But, trust me. I was afraid that you’re spoiling your health like dad. I feared that your family would feel neglected the same way we felt in our childhood. I always wanted your happiness. When you started treating Ana the way she deserved, my anger vanished. Now, I know that you would be a good husband and a good father to your children. I was waiting for a correct opportunity to execute my plan. And that’s when your birthday came. How ever I try to be angry with you, I am not able to. You’re always the same harshu baby for me. I was so upset to see your hurt face tonight. I apologise for that. Sorry harshu. And love you harshu baby.” He said as he hugged me.
I was stunned to the core by his revelation. It was a prank! I just hope that this should not be a prank as well. But from his eyes, I can surely believe that he is not lying.
“Bro! I am not acting. I am not a good actor like you!” He snorted. I chuckled. I hugged him.
“Happy birthday harshu” he yelled deliberately.
“Shut up! Don’t call me harshu in front of Ana. Okay?” I said.
During my childhood, I was called harshu baby by most of my relatives. All thanks to that chubby boy look of mine then. I used to be chubbier and fatter than Ishaan and hence the name.
When we grew up, still I was called harshu and Ishaan used to call me the same.
“No way!!” He said as he smeared some more cake on my face. He ran as soon as he did that. I was about to take revenge for this, when an idea struck me.
“The cake is so tasty, Ish” I said.
“Is it? Let me taste it.” Saying, he came closer to me as the cake was near me. As soon as he neared me, I smeared a piece of cake on his face. I flashed a victorious smile at him.
I know well about Ish.
“What the hell?! This is cheating!!” He yelled loudly.
I laughed hard seeing his face. I took a cherry from the cake and placed it on his nose.
“Perrrfecttt!!” I said as I laughed loud.
“You look exactly like a joker now.” I said in between my laugh.
He glared at me and smeared the remaining cake on my face. I took some cream from my face and applied in his face.
A flashlight broke our smearing game and we turned to see where the light was from. It was from Ana’s phone. She had been clicking us.
Miru was with her as well.
“Dufferrr!! This is not fair!! Delete that pics now!” Ishaan said.
“Happy birthday Harsha bro.” Miru wished me smiling. I smiled back and mouthed “thank you”
She looked at both of us coldly. She turned her head and looked away.
“Miru, tell them that I won’t be deleting that pics. I won’t be talking to them either.” She said bluntly.
Ishaan and I looked at each other. Ishaan gave me a “what did I do?” look. I gave that look back to him in return.
Ana was alright a few minutes back. What happened to her suddenly? Did she see all these fiasco? But still, she should be happy rather than angry.
“I know that this idiotic husband of yours must have done something. But, you know that I am your innocent brother-in-law and I have not troubled you even once. What did I do?” He asked innocently. I glared at Ishaan angrily. He smiled meekly.
“And you know duffer, your husband was acting like a superhero, when I blindfolded him and took him to that fav place of his. But that was all just show off. He is such a coward in real!” Ishaan continued his nonsense earning glares from me.
Miru giggled at that. I hit Ishaan playfully on his arm and he started running. I chased him and he hid behind Ana. Ana just pushed him and went away from there, while Ishaan gave a pathetic look at me.
***************************
Hey guys. Hope you all like this patch up. And sorry for no harsha and ana scenes. Sorry for my late update again. Actually, I posted this on wattpad a few days ago, but did not have time to post here. Sorry guys. Thanks for your support. Thank you Chriz and Indira. Thanks for reading.