Karan heard the footsteps hurrying up the stairs. They became louder as he sat on the bed. He knew who they belonged to and he was ready for them.
A knock came on the door. He was quiet. Koran and the rest would come in if, he did not respond.
The door opened quietly with eyes peeping into the room. When they sighted him, the boys walked in.
"What was that for?" Koran demanded, with his hands on his waist. His chest was bare and he wore a knicker down.
"What exactly?" His brows furrowed in confusion. Karan adjusted one of the pillows and relaxed on it.
"Don't claim to be confused, Karan. What you said about mother was incorrect" Kieran said, sitting next to him. "She had these tears in her eyes, that's why I followed you, upstairs."
He swallowed hard. Karan did not mean to hurt his mother. She was crying over split milk. Her marriage crashed many years ago, but she was still living a lie. Even though his father has not handed divorce papers to her, Karan knew that there was no hope for his mother.
He did not know how it happened or what she did wrong that made the man who once loved her hate her so much. He did not want to have anything to do with her.
The only reason why they were yet to divorce was because of the position, his father occupied in the country. As the number one citizen of the nation, he had decided to keep his little secret safe by allowing her to stay at home as his wife.
Grandmother Gangaa has also contributed. She tried her best to fix the broken relationship but each time, the pieces were brought together, it goes crashing to the floor again.
"You should go and pamper her. She will feel better by tomorrow" Karan told him. He drew the blanket up to his chest and laid back in the bed.
"Don't tell me you are going to sleep peacefully after this, Karan?" Koran was surprised. He was used to the fact that his brother hardly show emotions. Many girls have done crazy things to please him but he did not fall for them rather, he ignored them saying that love was fake!
But today's case was different. This was their mother and she did not deserve it.
"Why are you making me look like a villain?" Karan asked, sitting up. He grabbed a pillow and leaned it against the bed frame. "Is it not true that marriage is a show-off affair?"
Koran sighed. His brother was never going to understand the word marriage and why he needed to marry. "What about your daughter? if you don't care about yourself, think about her. She needs a mother, right now."
"Please, don't start preaching to me about marriage, Koran. It is not a do-or-die affair. Your grandmother is forcing me into a union that both the bride and I will be unhappy forever."
"I pity the woman who will decide to sit on the altar and take those vows with you" Kieran shook his head. "She will regret it forever."
"I know" Karan was less bothered. He will warn her before getting involved.
"How long are we going to put on with grandma's dates and scoldings?" Kieran asked his brothers. "I felt embarrassed when she forced me to take one of her friend's daughters to the temple. People thought we were married."
They laughed. Karan did not find it funny "I hope they know you are the one with her because this is not good for my reputation at all. If I happen to get married in the future, I will make a proper announcement to my fans."
"Whatever" Kieran was annoyed. They did not think of the humiliation he passed through. Karan was worried about his reputation.
"I'm sorry, Kieran" He apologized when he notice the anger in his tone. They loved teasing him a lot. Now, that it was their turn, they felt bad. "By the way, I have come up with a good plan, guys."
The triplet gathered around each other watching out for anyone, who will interrupt or eavesdrop on their conversation. Karan cleared his throat and continued "I will get married but on one condition."
His brother was confused but eager to hear from him. Why the sudden change of mind? For the past three years, Grandmother has been asking him to get married but he refused. Which of the girls convinced him?
"So what is the answer?" Kieran asked, curiously. if the idea, works for him then they were going to follow in his footsteps.
"A contract marriage."
The boys hissed at his idea.
"A contract marriage? Are you serious?"Koran stood, rubbing his face with his hands. Karan was sick, he needed a therapist. "How could you think of that? Grandmother will never allow marriage with such conditions. It will ruin the reputation of the family."
"You don't have to worry whether she accepts it or not," Karan told him. He was going to convince her. "Forget about me for now. Koran, will you listen to your elder brother?"
He nodded with his arms crossed in front of his broad chest.
Karan's lips curled into a disdainful smile as he observed his brother "We are no longer kids, Koran. We are grown-up men and I did not expect you to impersonate me. Even if you want to do it, please not with her. She is not my class."
Kieran's eyes darted from Koran to Karan. he was confused and had no idea of what his older brothers were saying. A few years ago, they promised not to impersonate each other again since they differed in personalties. Even though they have the same face and body structure, their characters were different.
Karan was respectful but full of ego. he had a charismatic personality that made women fall for him. Nevertheless, his ideologies were opposite from Grandmother's. He saw marriage and love as a curse. He did not want to have anything to do with them. His hobbies were almsgiving, biking, partying, reading, and moving from one woman to another. Karan had no destination...He was any woman's Mr. Wrong! But will they ever listen?
"What did I do now?" Koran asked.
"Why did you give him her a ride?. She thought I was the one."
"Oh... She? Priyanka is a sweet girl. I did not want to confuse her that's why I acted like you."
Karan scorned "you did not act like me. you displayed your character for her and now she thinks I want her. The girl is crazy."
"I like her" Koran confessed. "if you don't want her then I will ask her to date me."
"Fine" Karan pulled the blanket up again. He was going to sleep before they came. They have overstayed their visit. "if it suits you."
Koran was glad that his brother did not object to his feelings. Together with Keiran, they wished him a good rest before leaving the room.
"Koran..." Karan yelled his name. He opened the door and peeked through it. "make sure you tell her you are the one."