2

I was working on this new project when my PA, who also happens to be my best friend, barged into my cabin, panting and seemingly running here.

But why?

I raised an inquisitive brow at him.

"Um-aah," he stuttered.

"Spit it out, you idiot," I told him.

"There is something I need to tell you, I forgot, but please do not be mad," he begged.

I raised my eyebrows at him once more, waiting for him to finish so I could continue my work.

"Rahul, you are putting my patience to the test," I said.

He was pushing me; first, he forgot to bring my coffee in the morning, and then he messed up some paperwork. He then constantly complains about his workload.

"Um... the fundraising gala that we hold every two years and—" he tried to explain.

"Do not tell me you forgot to schedule that because it is supposed to happen the day after tomorrow," I yelled angrily, cutting him off mid-sentence.

He looked at me, then down at his shoes, then raised his head to look at me and gulped.

"Ahh, that is what I was going to say; yes, I forgot." He made a surrender gesture with his hands and walked backwards slowly.

"But what do you expect from me?" There is always a lot of work that you give me on short notice, and what do you think of me? "I am a human, not a robot— like you," he said.

His job is simply to schedule my meetings and organise paperwork, which is far too much for him. I was about to tell him to leave because if he did not leave within the next few seconds, I could be held responsible for a murder.

For real this time!

"Get out of here before I kill you, idiot!" I yelled, and he bolted from the cabin.

I sighed and rubbed my face with my palms, wondering what I should do to organise a gala in only two days. Muktha, yes, she can do this work. I called my sister's number and waited for her to answer, which she did.

I cut her off at "Hel--"

"Yeah, hello to you; now I need you in my office in the next hour. Hurry up and don't be late," I said.

"But, bhai--" I end the phone call because I do not have time to explain everything.

I went on with my work. After some time, I checked my watch, and my sister was half an hour late, as expected. I heard voices outside my cabin and went to see who it was.

"Di, you can go talk to Bhaiya, and then we will leave," Athwa said to Muktha.

She promised him that nothing would happen and that everything would be fine.

That little boy was so afraid of me that he did not want to be in the same room with me. I do not like the fact that he has to be afraid of me, even though I love him so much that I would do almost anything for him. What I can not do is look at him. He reminds me so much of Mumma that it hurts to look at him.

When I opened the door, I saw them standing outside. I told Muktha that she would never be on time, and then I noticed Athwa, who was smiling at me, his cute smile with dimples, just like Mumma. I wanted to smile back, but I couldn't, so I looked at him coldly and watched his smile fade and his eyes well up with tears.

Instead, I asked Muktha why she had brought him with her and went back to my cabin. I shut my eyes in frustration... I did it yet again.

Enough, bhai, just because no one says anything to you does not give you the right to hurt other people, especially my little brother," Muktha said as they walked in. I looked at her angrily because no one talked back to me.

"Tell me why you called me, you ruined my day with my Athwa baby," she said to Athwa, who was beaming at her.

"I want you to organise a company event. You know that our company holds a fundraising gala every two years." She responded with a nod.

"That is to be celebrated in two days, the day after tomorrow, and I want you to..."

"Muktha di, can I go to the toilet quickly?" Athwa interrupted me in mid-sentence. I despise it when someone interrupts me when I am speaking.

"Do not you have basic manners, Athwa, You don't--" Muktha was so angry at me that I stopped talking and turned away.

"Yes, baby, you can go, then wait for me outside," Muktha said as he nodded and ran away outside.

"Bhaiya You do not have to be so harsh on him, and it is not his fault that he makes you think of our mother. You are only hurting yourself and him." I listened to her and remained silent.

"All right, you were saying something."

I nodded and continued. "As I previously stated, I want you to plan the gala perfectly. You can do the work that you do with event planning. And Muktha, you know how important this is to me, so make sure there are no mistakes." I finished.

"I know, do not worry about it." She exclaimed.

Yes, I know she can do it; that is why I called her.

"But in exchange, I want you to do something for me. I want you to look after Athwa for me." I opened my mouth to say something, but she stopped me with her palm raised.

"I understand how you feel about this, but I was planning on taking him to the art supply store, then to ice cream. But I can not because of you. The work you gave is big with less time." I looked down, thinking about it.

I can do it; I can take him to the store and then to ice cream. It is a simple task.

"All right, now leave!" I said.

She gave me a blank expression. I raised my brows at her, and she shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

I sat down on a chair, but then I heard Muktha's voice. I went close to the door to hear.

"Athu baby, do not worry; Bhaiya will not do or say anything to you." Muktha tried.

"But you promise not to leave me here." Athwa cried.

"I know and I am sorry, but Bhaiya gave me so much work with so little time that I had to leave. Otherwise, baby, you know I will never break my promise to you." Muktha comforted him, and he soon stopped crying.

Then I heard them open the door, so I dashed over to the couch and sat down. Muktha came in with Athwa holding her hand; he did not look at me.

"Do not look at him with such coldness, and remember what I told you." "You understand, you are going to take him to the art supply store and then to get ice cream?" She asked.

I raised my brows at her, and she raised hers in response, and I sighed and nodded. She then leaned down and kissed Athwa on the forehead, making him smile. She walked away, leaving Athwa standing near the door. He was looking at the room curiously.

"You can sit on the couch and do whatever you want. I will finish my work, then we will leave, okay?" He nodded yes.

"Use your words, Athwa. "You were talking fine with your didi," I told him.

He looked at me with wide eyes, and I felt bad for scaring him. "Yes, bhaiya, I understand."

I love hearing him call me bhaiya, which is unusual because we do not talk much. In my life, family interaction is rare.

•*•~•*•

A few hours later

I finished my work and shut down my laptop. I checked my watch and it was 6 p.m. Now I have to take Athwa with me. When I looked over to the couch, I saw him sleeping soundly, his left leg dangling off the edge and his mouth slightly open.

I smiled at the sight of my adorable brother, and then my mother's face flashed in front of my eyes again. I wiped the smile off my face and moved closer to Athwa. I gently shook him, and he sat up straight.

"I am sorry, Bhaiya. I do not know how I fell asleep, I am sorry," he stuttered. When I looked at him, he was trying hard not to cry.

It breaks my heart to see my baby brother so terrified of me. Why should he not be? I have always given him a reason to be scared of me.

"It is fine, Athwa. You just dozed off. You do not have to cry," I tried to say firmly, but it came out cold. He flinched at my cold tone and simply nodded.

"All right, then, let us go, first to your art supply store," I said softly.

"Okay!" replied Athwa.

He got everything he needed, and now we are having ice cream, vanilla for me and chocolate for Athwa. We were leaving the cafe and had to cross the road, and then suddenly Athwa left my hand and ran into the middle of the road. I saw him picking up a cat from the road and coming towards me.

I noticed a car approaching from the left at full speed. I quickly drew Athwa to me, and he slipped and fell on his knees as a result of the sudden pull. My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.

"Athwa, you are stupid! Why did you run like that in the middle of the road?" I screamed at him, clutching his arms tightly.

I was furious because if I had been a few seconds late in bringing him to me, he would have... I-I do not want to say it. Athwa was crying on the side of the road by this point, and I turned my back on him, cursing myself for lashing out at him. The car, the blood—it all came crashing down on me.

Then I heard the most captivating voice. The calm that washed over me... it frightened me of the effect of that voice. And I had heard this before but couldn't remember where or when.

"You do not speak to a child in this way, mister." 

Thank you for taking the time to read!