"Dada please," Nitya whined again. "Mukul has always been allowed to live by himself from the very beginning, but I had to live in the hostel till my undergrad. Even after that, you all were convinced only because of Surbhi! I can also take care of myself; and if you don't even trust me this much, then how are you trusting me with the paper presentation in France? And what if I am selected for the next round as well, won't you let me go then!?"
"Enough Niku! Mehul raised his voice slightly. "We have three months to think about that, now just finish your meal and go pack."
Nitya looked up with teary eyes and left the table without saying a word, Mukul was about to run behind her, when Surbhi stopped him by holding his wrist. He looked back at his girlfriend, demanding an answer.
"Give her some time, it's the first time she has heard Mehul bhaiya raising his voice at her." After that, she looked back at Mehul and spoke softly, "Bhaiya, I am not questioning you, there must have been a reason for you to raise your voice at her. But we all know that she is stubborn and you have never lost your patience when it comes to her, so why today?"
Mehul sighed. "I messed up, didn't I?" He asked, looking back at the two sitting in front of him on the dining table. He then continued, "But didn't you guys notice how afraid she was just some hours ago? She was trembling in my arms, even though she knows that I will never let anything happen to her; but still my proximity was not able to calm her down. Then how can I trust her to leave her alone in the house? What if she burns herself while cooking; even worse, what if she gets a cut while chopping the vegetables; and she doesn't even eat alone, she will definitely skip her breakfast everyday for sure! You both know, she is just like a daughter to me- I was nine when I held Mukul and her for the first time in my hands, and look how grown up you two are now."
"Huh, you mentioned that you were nine when you held both of us for the first time, and still you love her more than me. I feel jealous!" Mukul huffed.
"That's because you have been healthy from the very beginning, but she wasn't. And even that was not enough, she was born allergic to analgesic (painkillers) and the doctor mistakenly injected her with one. After which she ended up in the ICU and was admitted for 21 days straight; she was saved after so much effort. After that I promised myself that I will never let anything happen to her again, so I am scared. I am scared after seeing her in this state; and I have no shame in admitting the same because I know she will never tell us her trouble unless she is no longer able to handle it anymore," a drop of tear appeared in the corner of Mehul's eyes.
"Why is this the first I am hearing of this?" Mukul was also concerned, and on the edge of crying knowing that he had almost lost his twin in his childhood without even knowing it!
"Because mom-dad and everybody else thought it would be best to hide this story from you two, so we just told you that she is allergic to analgesics. We even regretted telling her this, because after that she never told us if she was in pain. The silly girl used to think that we would be troubled, because it's her fault that she is allergic to analgesics and can't take one to lower her pain!"
Surbhi was also in tears after hearing the story, and Mukul had frozen in place. He tried to hold it in; but after all his efforts, he couldn't make it and broke down crying. "I am sorry, bhaiya, that you had been going through all this alone; and I was always fighting with you that you love her more, like an idiot. I am such a bad brother, aren't I?"
Mehul stood from his chair and held both his kids in their early 20s and hugged them. "No, Mukul you are not a bad brother; and Surbhi, I am requesting you- before you start feeling inadequate as well. Let me tell you guys, that you are the best brother and the most amazing best friend anybody can dream to have. Now be a good kid and stop crying; I still have a 22 year old baby, who might be sobbing somewhere in the corner of the room, to look after. So you guys please excuse me!"
After this, he walked away in search of Nitya and found her sitting in the corner of the roof, crying her eyes out and having recurring hiccups. His heart ached at the sight, but made a decision and moved forward.
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'Ji-hun's subconscious was divided into two parts: one part of him wanted to sleep and find out if the dream reappeared, but the other half didn't want any adventure. He knew he was not a normal college going boy, who was allowed to do everything he wanted, but he was still blessed to have his family and friends by his side. So after a very interactive fight with his subconscious, he decided to go to sleep. As Hyeon hyung had told him: if he didn't believe in destiny but he believes in himself, then he can change everything in his life as he wanted it to be. So even if the dream would continue, he would not be bothered by it anymore. That is when he drifted off to dreamland, unaware of anything from the real world.'
Kaoru peeped from his door and shut it very carefully so as to not disturb his sleep, but ended up slamming the door instead with a loud bang.
"Are you for real?! He is your own brother whose sleep you were about to interrupt just now!" Chang Min looked at him in surprise.
"Yes, it's a blessing that he is a heavy sleeper and didn't wake up with this amount of noise!" Kaoru admitted, a little ashamed.
"Okay okay, now let's go. I am sure Hyeon is going to pop out; we have broken three rules in one day, and also left his favourite alone."
"Sometimes, I really don't understand if we were three classmates, and Ji-hun is my brother; or those two are best friends and he is Hyeon's brother!"
"Hey, what are you saying , you know very clearly why he loves Ji-hun more than everyone!"
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