It was the last week of college for the three boys. Arhaan came to arjun's room all dressed up. Arjun was giving himself a quick lookover when he saw his brother all ready to gain attention. Arhaan moved towards him "bhaiya aapne wo nikky ki birthday party wale din kaunsa perfume lagaya tha?" He asked going through arjun's dresser
Arjun "ye wala." He said pointing towards a bottle.
Arhaan tried to pick it up but arjun stopped him "not so fast beta, aaj itna saj dhaj ke kahan jaa raha hai?"
Arhaan "college."
Arjun "roj to aise ban than ke nahi jaata tu."
Arhaan offended "do you mean I dress shabbily bhaiya?"
Arjun "yes, you hardly care what you wear. You are so careless about it that i have to force you to change your clothes if something gets spilled on your attire during breakfast."
Arhaan "kya bhaiya sirf 4 baar hua hai aisa aur usme bhi maine 3 baar kapde badle the."
Arjun "exactly my point beta. To mera ye too casual bachcha aaj kisliye itna bana sawra hua hai?"
Arhaan "aaj date kya hai?"
Arjun "10th feb, to?"
Arhaan wanted to tease arjun so he replied accordingly "its valentine week bhaiya. I have to dress to impress."
Arjun raised his eyebrows "aur wo kyun? Kisse impress karna hai tujhe?"
Arhaan "nobody in particular but i don't want to remain single for long bhaiya. I also want to explore my options." He said in a flamboyant manner
Arjun was shocked at his child's boldness "don't you think you are too young for all this bachcha?"
Arhaan wanted to roll on the floor laughing, he has never seen his brother looking so shocked and scred at the same time "i am 18 bhaiya." He said as normally as he could
Arjun thought for a few seconds and realised that his brother is a young adult now. A young adult with raging hormones. A young adult with raging hormones and who is ready to explore his options. The thought seemed repulsive to arjun. He needed to do something, he needed to give his child a much needed talk about all this. Arjun tried to come up with something that he can say to arhaan to make him understand but even thinking about it made arjun feel uncomfortable and gulp.
After thinking for a few more seconds he held arhaan's hand and made him sit on the bed. He himself pulled a chair near and sat opposite to arhaan. Arjun thought for a minute then started to talk in a hesitant manner "aru beta, dekh teri umr me aisa feel karna normal hota hai. This is exactly what happens in puberty. Is age me hume lagta hai that life is just about having fun. And sometimes that fun is not exactly good for us and we fail to understand that our thoughts are clouded by the raging harmones in our system. When we give in to our bodily urges it does give as momentary pleasure but..............
Arjun wasn't able to complete as arhaan put fingers in his ears so as to stop arjun's voice from entering and started talking "ohhhh god stop it bhaiya. Please stop it before you go full on gyaan mode about this topic."
Arjun himself wanted to avoid talking about such things but he knew what needed to be done "dekh beta, i know you might not feel comfortable in talking about all this with me but all this is just a part of puberty. Dekh is time we don't think with our brain, it's all about listening to our, our..... ummmmm ....... body, yes body. Dekh actually hota kya hai na ..........
Arhaan stood up "kuch nahi hota hai, kuch hoga bhi nahi, especially after you spoiling my morning like this. Perfume manga tha aapse puberty par lecture nahi." He said and tried to move out.
Though arjun himself wasn't feeling comfortable but he knew he needed to discuss this with his child. He held his hand once again. Arhaan turned a little "bhaiya please trust me i really don't need this talk."
Arjun "you do and you are going to listen to it willingly or not willingly." He said firmly.
Arhaan gave him a puppy look which was countered by arjun's no nonsense cold stare. "Fine, but i am not answering or saying anything." He said sitting back on the bed
Arjun palmed his face, he was as uncomfortable as arhaan if not more but he pushed back the discomfort and powered through "dekh aru having se......" he stopped, took a deep breath and spoke again "dekh having physical desires in this age is very normal. But you should know that this is just a phase and once you are over these spiking hormones then you will understand that certain acts are more beautiful and intimate when you do it with the right person whom you have a connection with. Your partner deserves you and your loyalty. I know it seems difficult to wait but you should do that and if you feel that's not the way for you then its very important to have protected se...........
Arhaan once again stood up "ohhh god bhaiya. Seriously, geez what are you thinking. Bhaiya i just wanted to look good, nothing else. Trust me main aisa kuch nahi karne wala."
Arjun "kuch nahi karne wala isliye itna saj dhaj ke ghoom raha hai?"
Arhaan "arre college ke baad di ke saath icecream ka plan hai and you know how she is about clothes, isliye theek se taiyaar hua tha."
Arjun "to ye exploring my options wali kya bakwaas kar raha tha?"
Arhaan "i was just teasing you bhaiya. Believe me i know my limits aur nahi bhi pata hoti na to is lecture ke baad you have carved those in my mind."
Arjun "dekh aru it's good if you know your limits par is umr me kabhi kabhi hum......
Arhaan dramatically joined his palms in front of arjun "bhrata shree i promise main shadi ke baad apni biwi ke paas bhi aapki permission le kar jaunga par please put a full stop to this lecture. It's darn uncomfortable and frankly speaking it's making me feel nauseous." He said with a genuine pleading look
Arjun "Just stand by your words beta. Aur agar kabhi bhi tujhe lage ki tujhe.............
Arhaan "nahi chahiye aapka perfume, rakho aapne paas." He said and ran out of his room.
As soon as arhaan left arjun palmed his face and sat on the bed "thank god he ran away." He spend next few minutes to trying to normalise himself after which he came down to the dining area to have breakfast.
At the breakfast table both arhaan and arjun were avoiding each other as much as possible when anirudh spoke to both of them.
Anirudh "maan agle hafte se hi office aane wala hai na arjun?"
Arjun "ji dad. Monday se aayega."
Anirudh "kitna samajhdar bachcha hai. Itni choti umr me kitna jimmedar hai."
Arjun "ye to sach hai dad, maan in sabme sabse samjhdaar aur jimmedaar hai."
Anirudh "waise wo abhi se office aa kyun raha hai?"
Arjun "pata nahi dad, usne jeet ko to bataya hai kuch par maine jyada sawaal nahi kiye."
Arhaan "jeeju bhi kamaal hai child labour ko support kar rahe hai. Do you know mannu is still not yet 18, it's actually illegal to have him working in your office."
Anirudh "usse koi zabardasti nahi kar raha kaam karne ke liye. Wo apni ichcha se kar raha hai. Aur jahan tak baat rahi umr ki jeet aur arjun dono ne hi khud bohut jaldi kaam shuru kar diya tha."
Arhaan was surprised hearing that "really bhaiya?"
Arjun nodded "haan, both of us started when we were 19. Jeet to aur jaldi kuch karna chahta tha but we didn't had any ideas or means till then."
Arhaan "that's great but still you guys were 19, mannu is just 17 bhaiya. It's too soon for him to start working. Ye to hamare hasne khelne ke din hai, our golden period of enjoyment."
Anirudh "ye jo videshi games khelne ko masti kehte ho na tum log, ye mat bhulo videsho me bachche 13-14 saal ki umr me hi khud kamane lagte hai. Apne college ka aur apna kharcha khud uthate hai. Yahan sab mil jata hai to tum logo ko ye sab child labour lagta hai."
Arjun "dad please jaane dijiye. Hamare aur unke mahool me bohut difference hai."
Arhaan "aur kya, agar main kahin abroad me reh raha hota to main bhi pakka job kar raha hota. Lekin yahan wo culture hi nahi hai."
Anirudh "culture nahi hai kyunki tum karna nahi chahte. Ab mannu kar raha hai na try, tu bhi kar."
Arjun's eyes widened in horror "nahi, uski koi jarurat nahi hai. Ye ghar par hi theek hai."
Arhaan looked at him offended "kya matlab main ghar par hi theek hu?"
Arjun "matlab tu ghar par aaram se chhutiyaan enjoy kar beta, you don't need to think about all this."
Anirudh "ya dusre shabdon me tu office jaane layak nahi hai. Tu apne kaam kam karega aur dusro ke jyada bigadega."
Arhaan "do you really meant this bhaiya? Aapko bhi lagta hai main koi kaam nahi kar sakta?" He asked genuinely
Arjun mentally palmed himself, on one hand it wasn't that he doubts arhaan's capabilities but the other side of the story was that his child still wasn't mature enough to deal with the office environment. He thought for a few seconds then spoke "beta there is a right time and right place for everyone and everything. Yours hasn't come till now."
Arhaan "matlab aapko bhi lagta hai that i am not capable enough to get a job." He said looking disappointed
Arjun "maine aisa nahi bola meri jaan. You are very much capable but you don't need to opt for a job right now."
Arhaan "par dad...........
Arjun "dad just want you to understand that working in your age is not called child labour if it's done willingly. He doesn't mean to sent you to office. Hai na dad?" He asked giving a desperate pleading look to anirudh.
For once anirudh obliged "haan, mera yahi matlab tha. Kaam karne se bhaagna nahi chahiye par agar aapki situations theek hai to enjoy karne me bhi koi burai nahi hai."
Arhaan finally smiled "fir theek hai. Now i can enjoy guiltfree."
Arjun "good to hear that aur shaam ko jaldi aana. We have to go somewhere."
Arhaan "kahan?"
Arjun "bohut din ho gaye hum dono beach nahi gaye. Aaj chalte hai."
Arhaan "sirf hum dono?" He enquired
Arjun "haan sirf hum dono. I am done. Bye everyone." He said and left for office.
Arhaan was on seventh cloud. Arjun always make time for all of them but he still somewhere craves for his individual attention. He was happy that his bhaiya was making it a point to spend some time with him alone.
Soon arhaan and nikky also went to their respective college and school. Once in college both rohan and aru were making maan miserable as someone placed a cute teddy on his usual seat in the class. As soon as the boys got a break from the classes maan wanted to go to the library but the other two took him to the cafeteria instead.
Rohan "so who is she?"
Maan "who?"
Aru "jisne tujhe ye teddy diya hai." He said pulling the teddy out of his bag and placing it on the table
Maan "mujhe kisi ne kuch nahi diya hai, it was just there on the desk."
Rohan "no, it was there on your desk."
Maan "what do you mean my desk, maine kaunsa khareeda hai."
Aru "khareeda na ho, par us desk par hamesha tu baithta hai. So it was for you."
Maan "arre koi galti se wahan bhool gaya hoga, tum log mere peeche kyun pade ho?"
Rohan "aaj monday hai, to do din se yahan koi aaya nahi hai, it was found there in the very first period, so it only mean that somebody placed it there for you."
Maan "tu na uncle ki sasti copy banna band kar."
Arhaan "achcha rohan police wala bane to bhi problem hai aur tu ye jo secret majnu bana ghoom raha hai uska kya?"
Maan "this teddy is not for me. Now can you guys stop it?" He said glaring at them
Rohan "achcha theek hai, gussa kyun ho raha hai. Hum to bas bhabhi ke baare me janna chahte the."
Maan whacked him hard "kaun bhabhi bay? Ab kuch bola na dono ne to...........
Aru "to tu bhabhi se shikayat kar dega?" He said teasing maan
Maan "nahi bhabhi se nahi bhai se aur uncle se. Unhe bhi to pata chale unke laadle aaj kal kitni romantic baatein kar rahe hai."
The awkward conversation which arhaan had with arjun in the morning flashed in his mind "nahi please bhaiya ko kuch mat bolna. Main ab nahi chedunga tujhe, promise."
Rohan looked at arhaan as in he has seen an alien "kya baat hai aru, tu itni jaldi maan gaya? Itna khauf kab se aa gaya tere andar bhai ka?"
Arhaan "aaj subah se. Pata nahi kaisi behki behki baatein kar rahe the."
Maan "behki behki baatein matlab?"
Arhaan "arre wo young adults wali talk de rahe the about puberty and need of having safe adult acts." He said and cringed once again
Both maan and rohaan looked at each other and made super uncomfortable faces. Arhaan saw that and asked "tum dono se bhi baat ki kya kisi ne?"
Rohan "haan dad ne, last year, man it was so awkward and cringe worthy."
Maan "haan, it was nothing short of a punishment."
They spoke for sometime after which they again attended the class and went back home.
That night arjun took arhaan to the beach and both enjoyed their time. They were strolling on the beach when arhaan saw a street food vendor and got excited.
Arhaan "bhaiya golgappe."
Arjun "haan dekha maine."
Arhaan "dekha maine matlab? Ye koi taj mahal thodi hai jo dekh rahe ho. Chalo khaate hai."
Arjun "you are not eating from here arhaan. Tujhe khana hai to main tujhe koi achchi jagah se khila dunga."
Arhaan "mujhe koi achchi jagah nahi jana, golgappe sirf gandi jagah, i mean chote stalls par tasty milte hai."
Arjun "you are not eating from here aru."
Arhaan "main to khaunga aur abhi khaunga."
Arjun "that's enough aru, kuch nahi khana yahan se." He said firmly
Arhaan "bhaiya please khila do na."
Arjun "no way beta."
Arhaan "nahi khilaoge?"
Arjun "nahi." He said and moved forward. Arjun turned after a few steps to find his not so grown up kid and was shocked to find him laying on the sand.
Arjun hasted towards him "ye kya kar raha hai."
Arhaan "this is called throwing temper tantrums. Bachche apni baat manwane ke liye aisa karte hai. Ab jab tak aap mujhe golgappe nahi khilate main tab tak yahan se nahi uthunga."
Arjun palmed his face "get up arhaan."
Arhaan "no." He said like a moody child and pouted
Arjun "aru please beta, its really unhygienic. Tu beach ke alawa jahan se kahega wahan se teri pasand ka sab kuch khila dunga. Please utth jaa."
Arhaan "no, no, no. Mujhe golgappe khana hai aur yahin se khana hai."
Arjun "tu nahi uthega?"
Arhaan "jab tak golgappe khilane ke liye nahi maante tab tak to nahi."
Arjun groaned in frustration "theek hai chal."
Arhaan stood up at once and started to go towards the stall. Arjun held his hand and stopped him "atleast kapde to jhaad le." He said dusting his child's clothes. Arhaan just kept on looking at him with a smile on his face.
Once done arjun started to go towards the stall but arhaan didn't move. Arjun turned back "kya hua, chal ab."
Arhaan shook his head "nahi, ab nahi khana."
Arjun confused "kyun?"
Arhaan "cause you are the best bhaiya in the whole wide world." He said giving arjun a tight hug.
Arjun pulled him away "and that happens because you bring out the best in me meri jaan." He said and placed a soft kiss on arhaan's forehead
Arhaan "whack me."
Arjun "kyun?"
Arhaan "kyunki abhi main aapko kahunga ki jab dekho tab gopi bahu bane rehte ho to aap karoge hi to maine pehle hi bol diya."
Arjun pinched his cheek lightly "sudhar jaa thoda." He said and again started walking. Both strolled on the beach for sometime and went home afterwards.
The very next day maan found a folded paper on his desk. He wanted to get rid of it even before anyone can see it but to his dismay both rohan and arhaan saw it even before he could pick it up.
Rohan "oye ye kya hai?"
Arhaan "kisi ka letter lagta hai."
Rohan "jitna ye mehak raha hai usse to love letter lagta hai." He said picking it up
Arhaan "tu kyun utha raha hai, mannu ke desk par hai na, ussi ke liye hoga."
Maan offended "bakwas mat kar, mujhe kyun koi letter likhega. I am sure it's not a love letter and it is certainly not for me."
Rohan "then let's do the honours, shall we." He said and opened the paper only to find it to be a sketch of maan, with a few lines written under it.
"I promise to stand by you in all ups and downs of life and make our journey together a beautiful one. Do you promise to give me a chance?" Rohan read that note in his best girl voice and flashed a teasing smile towards maan.
Maan snatched the paper from him and looked at it shocked. Before he could react Arhaan spoke "ab to koi doubt nahi hai, ye note cum sketch tere liye hi hai. Aur ab jab ye clear ho gaya hai ki ye tere liye hai to kal wo teddy bhi pakka tere liye hi tha." He said and took out the teddy from his bag and forwarded it towards maan.
Maan gave him an annoyed look "tu kal se ye le kar ghoom raha hai?"
Arhaan "haan to aur kya karu?"
Maan "nikky ko de de, uske khelne ke kaam ayega."
Arhaan "mera nikky bohut samajhdar hai, kisi ke pyaar se nahi khelta."
Maan "shutup aru."
Rohan "yaar teri problem kya hai, koi ladki tujhe itne pyaar se propose kar rahi hai aur tu hai jo khush hone ki jagah chid raha hai."
Maan "mujhe nahi chahiye kisi ka proposal. Aur mujhe to lagta hai ye tum dono ki hi mili bhagat hai."
Arhaan "arre hum teeno do din se class me saath aa rahe hai saath jaa rahe hai fir hum ye sab kaise karenge."
Maan "wo mujhe nahi pata par ulti seedhi harkatein karne me tum dono ka dimag computer se bhi tez chalta hai."
Rohan "thanks for the compliment buddy but this teddy and note is as real as it gets. Hamara isse kuch lena dena nahi hai."
Arhaan "true, par pata to karna padega ki kaun hai jo is banjar jameen par pyaar ke phool khilane ki koshish kar rahi hai."
Rohan "aur kya tabhi to iski prem kahani aage badhegi."
Maan "nahi, koi jarurat nahi hai pata karne ki. Jo bhi hai, agar koi hai bhi to usse secret hi rehne do."
Arhaan "arre aise kaise secret rehne de, hume bhi to pata chale kaun hai hamari hone wali bhabhi ji."
Maan "bakwaas karna band karo dono, mujhe ye baatein pasand nahi hai. Na mujhe in chakkaro me padna hai na hi inki baat karni hai. To agar tum dono ne ye sab fir se discuss kiya ya ghar par kisi ko kuch kaha to theek nahi hoga." He said with all seriousness
Arhaan "you really think threatening us this way can help you. Hum dost hai, tujhe chhedna aur chidana hamara job description hai."
Rohan "aur kya, waise i really want to know kaun hai wo damsel jo is distress se pyaar kar baithi."
Arhaan "waise tera dil kya kehta hai mannu? Who do you want to be your secret admirer?"
Maan "nahi maanoge tum dono?"
Arhaan/rohan "bilkul nahi."
Maan "fine" he said, picked his bag and went to sit away from their usual place.
Both arhaan and rohan were about to follow him but their teacher arrived and asked all to take seats. Once the class finished both went near maan but the later just ignored him. Whole day went like that, no matter how hard they tried but maan didn't spoke a single word to them. Seeing no other option both apoligised and promised maan that they won't tease or talk about all this to him or anyone else.
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Hey readers
How was the chapter?
Please share your favorite scene.
What do you think will happen in maan's life now?
And lastly response on some previous chapters have been very disheartening. As i informed before I am anyhow not keen on finishing this book. I am only writing it cause many of you wanted me to finish it. So if i can write such lengthy chapters for you guys then you guys should also reciprocate by voting and commenting. So i'll only update the next teaser and chapter when i get appropriate response on this chapter and if it doesn't happen then i'll understand and discontinue this story.
Happy reading 😊