Adarsh's Pov.
After my call with the 'Wisdom Academy' ended, I moved towards the hospital again in a daze.
"Okay calm down! It's okay. I'm not freaking out." I repeated to myself again and again to calm the wave to nerves that were about to come.
'Who the hell are you kidding, Adarsh? You are freaking out here!' I dearest friend and my worst enemy aka my conscience said to me mockingly.
"Okay! I'm freaking out. I admit. Goddamn! That boy can't stay out of trouble, can he?" I shouted out my frustration, scarring an old grandpa and a nurse who were strolling in the front garden.
"Just when I taught my day couldn't get any worse!" I mumbled to myself while making a dash towards the reception.
'Please! Please let him be okay!' I prayed as even though he gives me a headache every other day, he still is someone I deeply care about.
"Atharv Dewan! Which room is he in? Hurry!!" I said out of breath and literally almost crying.
The receptionist looked alarmed and hurriedly checked her screen for the name.
"He is being treated on the first floor in the general ward." She said.
I ran towards the elevator while thinking back to the conversation I just had with the lady, who informed me about what occurred in the school today.
'Hello, am l talking to Mr. Adarsh Dewan?' a woman said through the phone.
'Yes speaking, what is this regarding?' I asked preparing myself for what I know will surely be something that will make me tick off.
'Sir, I am calling from Wisdom Academy. I called to inform you that your brother was injured in a fight which occurred in the school today between your brother and one other classmate of his . And that he is being treated at St. John Hospital right now.' She said professionally.
I was shocked after hearing her say that my brother was in a fight. And I don't even have to ask which brother of mine was in the hospital as I know who is capable to do such things at school.
'Thank you for informing me. Have a good day.' I disconnected the call after telling her that and paused for a minute to think of what I can do to make my brother understand that he is going way too far.
The elevator arrived on the first floor and I rushed towards the ward but as I was nearing it, I heard loud voices coming out of there. A woman was shouting about how much her son was hurt by the 'little devil'.
I had a very strong feeling that the 'little devil' she was referring to was my little brother. And bingo! There sat my brother, looking dead in the eyes of the woman who was shouting profanities at him while a doctor was treating his hands which seems to be badly hurt. And not only his hand but he has a bleeding lip, a black eye and a bandage wrapped around his head.
And then I turned towards another boy with the same school uniform as Atharv and that stunned me to my core. While Atharv had a black eye, the boy couldn't even open her eyes in the slightest. His hands seem to have broken , even his lips were swollen.
My anger vanished into thin air after seeing the scene infront of me. I have been called to Atharv's school many times in the past few months but none were this extreme. The state of the boy screamed at me that my brother needed to be stopped.
"Adarsh, what are you still doing here?" I heard Reyansh's voice from my side.
"Tell me why did you do that to my son, you evil child?" And then I saw the woman launching at my brother. She grabbed him by his collar and shook him like ragged doll. All that were present there ran towards the two and tried to reason with the angry mother, including me.
"Ma'am, please let the child go. He is already injuries enough." The doctor requested her.
"Mrs. Piyush, please let's go outside and discuss this. Being violent won't solve anything." The principal of Wisdom Academy said with a desperate voice.
"And why should I care whether it will solve anything or not. Look at my son his whole face is bruised up." The mother said angrily.
"Ma'am, please calm down. We can talk this out." I said trying to make her let go of Atharv. She let go of Atharv immediately and grabbed my collar.
"You are his brother, aren't you? Tell me what would you do now, huh?" She asked with tears in her eyes and I couldn't say a thing.
What could I say to her? So I just said nothing and let her do whatever she wanted to me.
"Ma'am, please leave him." Reyansh tried to make her let go of me but to no avail.
"Let go of my son!!" Came a voice from the doorway.
That voice made everyone of us turn towards it and made the angry mother let go of me. And the voice was none other then of Maa Sirat. The Managing Director of St. John Hospital and Reyansh's mother.
"Let's do some talking like the civilized people we are in my office. This whole fiasco is creating a disturbance in the hospital's working. Now, shall we?" She said with her no nonsense voice, which made even the woman gulp in fear.
I guess even Atharv was a bit scared that is why after everything, he tried to say something for the first time.
"Maa Sirat…" but she interrupted him by coming towards him and examining his wounds.
"We will talk later. Now take some rest." She said while petting his cheeks affectionately.
"Dr. Armaan please take care of the boys. See to it that they don't have any swelling when the morning comes." She asked the Doctor.
Then she turn towards everyone in the room and by a simple hand gesture asked us to follow her to her office.
After everyone was in her office and seated. Maa began to inquire about what was happening in the patient room.
"So, Do you mind telling me why you were holding MY son by the collar in MY hospital?" Maa asked putting a great deal of emphasis on MY.
Reyansh and I looked at each other understanding that Maa was not going to go easy on the woman even if Atharv was at fault.
"Why don't you ask that to YOUR son? I'm sure he will have the answers to your questions." The woman said just as strongly aa Maa.
Maa then looked towards us but honestly what would we say when we also didn't know what actually happened.
And Maa after understanding that turned towards the principal For the answers.
"Why is what I would also like to know, Mrs. Agnihotri. We just know that Atharv and Ritesh fought but why nobody knows. Even the students who were standing there and witness everything don't know what actually happened." The principal said rubbing his face in frustration.
"What? You don't know what exactly happened, Sir?" The woman said with a shocked face.
"No, Mrs. Piyush. I don't know that was the reason I was stopping you from saying or doing anything to Atharv. We don't know who was at fault here." He said looking at the now guilt ridden mother.
She immediately stood up and walked towards me. At first I was startled thinking that she was again going to grab me by the collar. But she did something I never expected. The woman grabbed my hand and with tear filled eyes said
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realise that it could be my son's fault too. I just couldn't handle seeing my son in that state. I apologise for my behaviour."
I can totally understood what she was implying. When I saw Atharv in that state even I was losing control for a minute. Seeing your loved ones hurt hits hard.
"I can understand, ma'am. You don't need to apologise. If Ritesh is at fault, Atharv is too. I apologise for what happened to your son. And I'll also see to it that Atharv apologizes to Ritesh as well" I said sincerely.
"I too will make Ritesh understand that whatever he has done is wrong and that he should apologise to Atharv." She said smiling.
"So, it's all settled and done. Mrs. Piyush, I would like to make an request that if something like this happens again don't grab my son's collar. It's makes me want to kill." Maa Sirat said smiling her 'I will kill you if you do it again' smile.
"Yes ma'am, I understand it loud and clear." The woman said honestly.
After saying that she went to check up on her son. And Maa Sirat turned towards The principal to talk.
"So, I believe you are going to punish the boys, which is mandatory off course. I won't interfere as that is your school matter but as it concerns my son I would like you to consider that this is Atharv's first offence and by the mother's reaction, it's Ritesh's first offence as well. So please be lenient with the both boys." Maa said with her business voice.
It was clear as a day that the principal was intimidated by Maa Sirat. Who wouldn't be? I mean the woman is dangerous when her family is involved. And she has made it clear that we are her family.
"I know, Mrs. Agnihotri. I will keep that in mind. Now I will take my leave." Said the principal standing up from his seat. With that said he too left after giving his goodbyes to me and Reyansh.
"I will go and look at Atharv's condition. Rey, go to the school and bring Atharv's belongings here. And yes don't forget to bring Ayush along with you too. The boy is too sensitive, he might be worrying that little brain of his very much right now." Maa Sirat instructed Reyansh before turning to me.
"And you mister, you will rest right here in this office. You just had your sessions, your mind needs rest. No questions asked." Maa Sirat ordered me leaving no room for arguments.
So I just nodded my head and sat down on the couch as I watch Reyansh leave to do as he was told. Following behind him Maa Sirat stopped at the door before turning towards me with a sad smile and said in a low voice.
"Don't be disappointed at him. He is just having a hard time." With that she left to take care of Atharv.
"Aren't we all." I said to no in particular.
I had never ever imagined that my life would take such a drastic turn. That I have to be parents to my younger brothers. That I have to harbour the burden of the truth that even I want to deny. Signing loudly I stood up and went to check up on Atharv. Nothing good comes from dwelling in the past.
As I neared the room, I heard Maa Sirat comforting Atharv as he lays on her lap.
"Its okay sweetie. I know there must be a reason for you to do what you have done. But that doesn't make it right, understood?" It was as if she was talking to a wall. Atharv wasn't even blinking his eyes let alone listening to her.
But Atharv said nothing. He even refused to look towards Maa Sirat, which was a clear indication that he doesn't want to talk about it. I was about to enter the room when I heard him utter something that tore my heart apart.
"Why is he still holding on to me? He could let me go. He should let me go. I'm nothing but a burden to him anyways." Atharv said mindlessly.
My feet took me to the nearest chair as my legs felt like they could not handle my weight at the moment. Maa Sirat was not able to understand what Atharv was implying but I understood everything that he was saying. It was I he was talking about.
Was it me who has been hurting him all this time?
What is it that changed my sweet, loving brother into the lifeless and rude being that he is today?
Just what in God's name happened to us all? What should I do?
"Maybe just make a wish!" A voice came from beside me.
I turned towards the voice and found my father's attending Doctor, Danish.
"Was I again speaking out loud?" I asked while rubbing my face in frustration.
"Maybe. Maybe not." He said smiling his brightest smile.
I never quite understood this guy. I mean, He seems like your regular guy with a regular life. But there is this something that seems off to me about him. I just can't point my finger at it but there is something that bothers me about him.
"Am I that handsome that your turning gay for me?" He said in a serious voice.
I looked at him as if he has grown two heads. How the hell did he reached that conclusion?
"No, I mean. You have been staring at me very attentively. So I thought that maybe you have changed lanes." He clearified shrugging his shoulders.
"Its none of anyone's business but No, I have not changed lanes as you have so nicely stated. I was just thinking about something." I said looking towards the floor as if it has the answers to my questions.
"Hmm…let me guess somethings like… Why is this happening to me? Why has my life gone from bearable to total misery? Why isn't anything going the way I want them to? Or What can I do to make these things right again?" He said with conviction.
I couldn't say anything. What can I say when whatever he has said is true. I was thinking those exact things and more.
"My life seems like a movie script, doesn't it? Dead mother, comatose father, rebellious brother, problems here, problems there. And there is nothing I or anyone else can do about it." I chuckled nearly defeated.
"Have you ever heard about the legend of Prabhat Akashi?" He asked out of nowhere.
"Huh?" I uttered confused with the sudden change of topic.
"There is this old legend. Centuries ago, a man named Prabhat ended his life on a waterfall, now know as Prabhat Akashi. Nobody knows the reason and nobody cared. But after the man died, mysterious things started to happen around that waterfall. People say that if someone goes there at dawn, defeated by life, surrounded by problems and make an earnest wish, the wish becomes their reality. Their longing earns them what they most desperately desire." He said with a twinkle in his eyes and a soft smile on his face.
I was not understanding why and how the legend of Prabhat Akashi is related to me.
The confusion must have shown on my face as he gave a little laugh and said, "It just came to me and I decided to share it."
I was still confused but decided to let it go as I saw Maa Sirat coming out of Atharv's room.
"Okay Adarsh. Now I have to attend to my patients." He stood from his place and took two steps but stopped and turned around.
"I think you should visit the place. If your wish didn't get fulfilled at least you will find peace of mind there. It's just a little further from the hospital. Into the woods." He said smiling and then again turned around and went on to do his work.
He really is an odd ball. He comes out of nowhere ,then talks about things that are nearly impossible to understand and disappear in a minute.
"What a man!!" I said shaking my head in the direction he disappeared too.
"Who?" I heard Maa Sirat asking also looking in the same direction as me.
"No one." I said clearing my head of him.
Let's focus on the problems at hand. I have too much on my plate to think about the things he has spoken about.
"How is Atharv, Maa?" I asked her standing up from my chair.
"He's doing well now. Let him rest here for tonight and take him home tomorrow. So that If he shows any other kind of injuries, we can take care of it here."
"Okay. Thank you, Maa." I said sincerely.
"Boy, you never listen, do you? It's what a mother does. No need to thank me. Now go and stay beside him. He's sleeping right now, you also take a rest." She said and then went on to do her work.
I went towards Atharv's room and hesitated a little outside the door.
"Brother?" I heard a worried voice from beside me.
It was my little brother Ayush. He rushed towards me and hugged me tightly. Squeezing the air out of me.
"Please don't be angry with him brother. You know mother's dead affected him badly. He will be fine after sometime, please be patient with him." He said hurriedly thinking that I would scold Atharv for what he did.
Well he did something which deserves a good scolding but I know it was not the time to do that. So, I hugged him back and said in a low voice.
"I won't be angry with him, Promise. Don't worry. Now go stay with him. I will be there in a minute."
After that he looked at me with a relieved smile and went inside to see Atharv. I signed a long sign and looked towards my friend, Reyansh, who was leaning by the window, silently witnesses everything that took place here.
I started walking towards him but the ringing of my cellphone interrupted me. I took it out of my pocket and it was Faisal who was calling me.
"Hello?" I answered it.
After a minute I looked towards Reyansh and thought to myself if my life will ever give me a break.