The book of snippets

Varisu

He almost goes back into his nap before Mathew says a hesitant "sir?"

Vijay hums questioningly, still not giving up on that sleep. 

"How did you know your brothers would quote the figure you wanted them to quote?" 

Vijay peers at him with a smirk growing on his face. 

"You know Mathew, my dad was very strict with our studies. Like 'you need to know every word printed in this thrice damned book' strict. As if that wasn't enough, he was extra strict with Mathematics.

We had a test sort of thing every week, we had to solve a given set of problems in an hour. Those who couldn't finish would have to study under a tutor. We all hated tutors. 

So, anyway, I inherited all of the looks and brains from my ancestors. So, I had no problem finishing it since I was in second grade. My brothers were not so lucky. 

They were only a grade apart. So, Jay handled the formulas and Ajay handled the calculations.

The best part is that I used to finish first and they used to bribe me with chocolates to keep quite and keep watch." 

Vijay smacked his lips indicating that he was done narrating the secrets of his childhood. He looked at Mathew with a smile.

"Anyway the moral of the story and the answer to your question is, I knew because my brothers are a damn good team when they are not playing kaun banega karodpathi succession version with each other."

Mathew nodded and turned. 

Then vijay yawned and said, "Mathew inform everyone that I'm on a break. It's almost lunch time anyway."

"We still have an hour and a half for that" Mathew murmured to himself but  issued strict orders that no one disturb the chairman until after lunch. 

~~~

Rajendran walked to the kitchen making as less noice as he could. If there was one thing the doom of impeding death taught him, it was humility.  He is walking back to his room when he spots someone sitting at the house's entrance, someone he missed the first time. He shakes his head chiding himself and walks towards the door. 

"I would have expected this from either of your brothers but not you" he says announcing his arrival. His youngest looks the least bit chastised just surprised.

"Appa? Why are you awake?" He asks almost getting up. "Do you need anything?" 

Rajendran shakes his head in denial and stops him from getting up before sitting down himself. 

"Sudha told me you were sleeping." It's Rajendran's own way of asking him why he isn't asleep, especially after what happened. 

Vijay sees through that, he always does. "I... just... couldn't sleep." He then faintly rubs his right wrist with his thumb. Rajendran notices his clenched teeth.

A sudden thought flashes into his mind. "Does it hurt anywhere?" He did ask before. Right after they all came home except for Jai. Sudha had patted him down checking him while asking a whole wave of questions. Vijay answered every single one of them with a smile and repeatedly said he was fine. But, "I knew we should have called a doc-"

"Appa" Vijay cuts him off. There is a small smile on his face. "I'm fine, just tired."

Rajendran has seen Vijay tired before, but there was always something so exhilirating and endearing about it. Like Sudha. Now his son just looked exhausted to his last bone. Regret courses through him. 

'You're just a boy and I placed the weight of my world on you.'

Is what he thinks...

"Well, if you're tired then you should go sleep." 

Is what he says... 

"I will. You should go sleep too... you need the rest pa." Vijay says and Rajendran knows he can't say anything to budge him. He knows a lost fight when he sees one. He sighs and gets up with Vijay's help. He assures his son that he is fine as he walks with him inside. 

As they slowly walk to Rajendran's room. Rajendran clicks his tongue and says, "You know... I forgot to tell you." 

Vijay peers at him curiously. 

"When you ran off to fight Anthony. Jai called me." Rajendran pauses and looks at Vijay. Surprise is written on his face in big red letters (m) and Rajendran suppresses a bitter chuckle.

"He was the first one to notice that you were missing. He alerted the police officers and he called to tell me." Rajendran recites almost fondly and he notices, that there is slight admiration and content blooming in Vijay's eyes.

"I could here it in his voice. He was worried for you."

Vijay's lips quirk upwards slightly.

"So, maybe your brothers are not as estranged as I thought they were."  Rajendran says as they almost reach his room. He sees the  smile breaking on Vijay's face. 

Vijay nods and then says, "Good night pa." 

Rajendran returns the wish. Before he closes the door, he notices Vijay walking up the stairs to his own room. Hopefully to sleep!

My first ever Varisu fic.

Phew... 

I'm telling you I vibe with subtle, subtext of the drama in the movie so much. 

Brace yourself lads... There will be more to come.

No beta reading has been done. We die like my sleep schedule. 

Meet you in the next chapter.