Janhvi was sleeping the only thing she could make out was a firm hand on her forehead and then the words 'Oh no! You have a fever' and soon everything was silent as it was before.
Janhavi woke up, it was 10 already! She quickly ran out of her room to find Anant reading his novel.
"Hey! Are you alright? Last night you had a high fever!"
"What!"
"Umm.. yeah! You don't remember?"
"What happened?"
"I was looking for some papers when I heard you scream so I rushed into your room and found you drowning in sweat, I saw you were asleep so I figured out you were having a nightmare. I woke you up and found you had a fever and after that you went to sleep after I gave you the medicine"
"I am sorry, I troubled you so much!"
"Nah its nothing. When life seem hard just take a break, relay on someone else for a while and when you feel better, just try standing up by yourself"
These were the exact words she said to Laksh. She froze at that realization.
"It's okay Janhavi, you need to depend on people. You don't need to fake anything. Showing some emotions doesn't make you weak instead it tells you, you can get stronger. "
She looked at him. His words Echoing in her ears. These were the exact words she wanted to hear from someone, well, Sanjay and Gopal tried to make her realise the same by offering her to stay in their house but she, she refused trying to be independent but Anant's words hit her hard. For once she thought, it wasn't pity her cousins felt nor blindness from love. Perhaps they just suggested what was best for her.
When life seem hard just take a break, relay on someone else for a while and when you feel better, just try standing up by yourself. She thought. I can do that, as soon as I am home, I'll hug Jeev and Jai hard and will finally tell them, 'we are done teaching tuitions, you won't be laughed at anymore, I am sorry I ain't mummy, I ain't Papa, I ain't the big sis you imagined me to be, I ain't strong, I ain't independent, I ain't responsible. I am sorry, this world is cruel, this reality is cruel, Mummy, Papa, Uncle and Aunt are all gone, sadly they'll never return, atleast not in the form we remember them in.
Life is unfair, time is unfair, it won't stop or become easy to pass, because we are recovering, we are morning or because we are simply kids, it's gonna be harsh but there will be people who'll support us no matter, no matter how weak we are, no matter how stupid and childish we are, no matter how crazy and sensitive we are. I am sorry I am late to tell you this, let's hold hands together through this all, so that one day when we are older, we can finally laugh together and say I love you.'
It was only when she was done thinking that she realised, throughout this time she was crying, Anant was holding her in his arms, like a big brother, he was wiping her tears.
He said "It's gonna be alright, life is like a mountain range, at times you climb a mountain and at times you descended it. No one expects you to be tough through it all. It's alright."
"Thanks!"
"No its alright!"
"I lied to you!"
"About you being a runaway, ahh... we knew about it. We know that you aren't from this universe, we have a bit of knowledge about magic, worlds, gate and all."
"You knew I was lying!"
"Yeah! We understand why you did! It's okay, you didn't have a choice."
"Thanks!"
"You know, you are an important part of our family, even if we are hundred light years away, these bonds that we share are not going to waver."
Janhavi kept crying and crying and through it all Anant was there, providing her the warmth that she needed, wiping her tears softly and offering her a place where she was just Janhavi and not a tough adult.
It was probably just a small gesture, but the one needed by Janhavi. Throughout the two toughest years of her life, she was pretending, pretending to be strong and hopeful, but deep down she was just a scared child pushed in the scary adult world, a teen who was forced to pretend and grow up. Anant knew this, he saw right through her shell into her heart. Being the loving and caring brother and adult he is he performed the gesture of comforting her, knowing very well that it's the small gestures that count and act the most while binding the sweet yet sensitive rope called relations.
Finally Janhavi stopped and thanked him. But deep in her heart she had attained a sense of peace, now she knew, she wasn't alone and that she needn't pretend through it all, finally, finally maybe not all but she had a little of the future figured out, finally she had the hope and support she was searching unknowingly through these harsh years. Life isn't all easy but it's not all hard too. She thought I know one day I'll reach the light I have been searching for. She smiled, this time it wasn't forced, she was genuinely smiling, this meant a lot, she was smiling like she didn't have a care in the world.
Almost two hours had passed by, Janhavi and Anant were talking, not something big or emotional, just an average talk about what kind of foods they prefer and all. Suddenly, Anant's phone rang. Neither the teen nor the adult knew or expected what avaited them.
Anant picked the phone, had a brief talk, then he turned to Janhavi and informed her, he had to go to Aakhand's school, the reason was unclear. Janhavi was worried that Aakhand might have been bullied or gotten sevearly injured by a bully or something, well it could be that he had a fever or something.
Anant was driving the car, wondering what might had happened. He reached his brother's school, parked and went in. He was escorted to the principal's office, which he found odd. He went in and
saw his brother standing, Aakhand looking down, while the teacher and the principal looked angry.
His teacher started explaining "Your brother here beat down two boys pretty bad, both of them are in the nurse's office. We don't allow such offense in our school."
Anant looked straight at his brother then asked "What happened?"
He replied with a low voice to sound guilty and the victim "I was walking by, minding my own business when out of nowhere those two approached me. They started picking on me, still I said nothing but then one of them landed a punch on me, the second joined him. I had no choice but to fight or else I would have been the one in nurse's office."
Anant looked straight at the teacher and with a calm voice asked "Did you know that he acted in self defense?"
The teacher looked at Anant losing all her confidence. She nodded then tried explaining herself
by saying that he should have called a teacher.
"Called a teacher! Are you alright Ms.! He was cornered! How the hell was he supposed to call a teacher! Why the hell am I called here! That too in the principal's office! Why is my brother being treated like he is in the wrong! Besides, he has been getting bullied from almost forever, I think about 2-3
years! The authorities never acted! And when he did you are giving him detention! Where were the authorities when my brother needed them! Those kids started the fight their parents or guardians should be called and not me!"
"Calm down!" Said Aakhand still a bit in shock
"Sir we don't permit violence in our school!"
"Yeah that's why the gurdians of those kids should be here and not me. Anything else you wanna' say?"
"No sir!"
"May I leave now?"
"Yes sir"
The school bell rang and out came fuming yet proud Anant with a shocked yet happy Aakhand. They sat in the car.
"Bro, are you seriously not mad at me?"
"No of course not. What you did was right. Actually I am proud of you!"
"Ahhmm oh! Look I am sorry! I won't repeat it again!"
"Bro, I am seriously not mad! I want you to repeat this again in case needed. And I am not being sarcastic here."
"Seriously! I thought I was cooked! I had prepared thousands of conversations in my mind. You're so cool, you were amazing at the principal's office! Did you see their faces, goodness they dropped when they heard you! The amount of confidence, Oh my!"
Aakhand was both glad and relieved. It's been a long time since I saw him that cheerful after school! He stood up for himself! I had dreamt of this day a million times yet never ever thought it would occur! I am on cloud nine! Now I know my brother will stand his grounds no matter it be school, college, university or even job! Thought Anant.
Both of them arrived at their home. Akhand came out and explained everything to Janhavi and Amrita. You could see pure excitement in his eyes as he recreated all of the conversation, acting the part of him, his brother, the teacher and the principal. What an all in one show it was! The expressions, the faces all simply magnificent.
After he was done enacting, the four had lunch, then started watching a movie. In middle of the movie. Anant heard his brother sitting beside him whisper "Although I wonder whether fighting against the people avoiding me would do any damage to the curse? What if it increases and I am never ever accepted in the society, what if I continue to be an outsider, no matter what I do! What then!"
It was only when he completed his phrase that he realised his brother had heard him. Feeling guilty of disturbing his brother's peace of mind he went to the
kitchen saying he needed water.
Anant said nothing to his brother during the movie. It was only when Amrita went to read her book and Janhavi to her room that he approached him.
"Brother!" He said with a calm voice, "I heard you."
"I know!"
"What are you so afraid of?"
"The curse, the fact that I might never get a place no matter how much I struggle, aspire or try to. This world is so full of spirits it might never have place for a cursed lad like me. Day by day this thought, or the present and near future eats me alive. Do I really have no place? Is the only purpose of my life is fighting the curse?"
"It's gonna' be alright. Don't be afraid of the result, just do what you are supposed to, okay? You tried and that's what all matters. One day your struggles, your hardwork, your determination will be answered with friend who knows maybe more than one, five or ten. Life isn't easy, none of us are born with a place in the society, everyone takes time to create one for them, your journey might be longer than that of your classmates but when you'll achieve what you desired of you'll cherish it more than your classmates and who knows, maybe one day you'll help someone create a space for themselves."
"Brother, ain't you afraid of the curse?"
"Bro, it's not a curse. See it this way, we all are trees with hollow barks, some are told they are hollow, some are not. We just happen to be former one of them. Everyone have their own ups and downs in life.
We are simply being told of our difficulties, society has a problem with every single person, all get judged, some in front of them, some at their backs, and the people who truly accept us our known as family and friends. You are yet to find those friends but I am sure one day you'll find them and when you do, cherish them with all your hearts and till that time just be hopeful and keep looking."
"Aren't you afraid of the curse? Aren't you afraid of the fact that one day the moon will shine with you but the sun won't rise with you the next day. You're such a nice person then why? Why have you been given such a less time? I don't wanna' lose you! I don't know what I'll do without you!" Tears rolled down the teens cheeks.
Hearing this even Anant's eyes got full of tears, he hugged his brother and said, "Why? Why should I be sad? I know any minute might be my last, but the day I die, I'll die in peace, knowing no matter how many times I die, the next time I'll be once again blessed with brother like you and sister like Amrita! The time will change, our names and identities will change, our lives will change, the world will change but through this all what will remain eternal, unbroken and same will be our family, our bonds, our love! What more can I ask for! I have you, I have her, that's all I want and will for! I ask for no more! And you know what, I know you are strong, even after I'm gone please take care of yourself, please take care of Amrita. I know you can do it. And then once again in our next lives let's spend it together laughing and crying, expressing love and anger!"
"Oh my elder brother! You're so selfless! I love you!"
After this emotional conversation a deep silence followed. The two hugged each other and sobbed by each other's side. Finally, both of them calmed down.
Through a single conversation the positivity Aakhand had attained was unspeakable.
Yy
A few days passed by Janhavi felt more connected to the three siblings. Seeing the family deepen and recreate their bonds she felt the she too can forge deeper bonds with her brothers.
It was an average afternoon. Janhavi, Amrita, Anant and Aakhand were playing ludo. Which happened to be Amrita's favorite game. Janhavi was the first one to win followed by Aakhand, the game continued between Anant and his sweet sister. There was a sudden and unexpected knock on the door. Aakhand opened it. Their were two boys who looked unfamiliar yet familiar as if he had seen there face before but he was sure he hadn't. A boy who looked older than the other one stepped up.
He said, "I take it a girl named Janhavi lives here."
"Yes."
"Please let me meet her."
"Sure, please come in."
The two boys were welcomed in the living room. Aakhand then went in to call Janhavi who was pretty surprised to hear someone came to see her. In the living room she went. What she saw filled her eyes with tears. Could it be true! Or am I dreaming? The two boys got up. They were non other than Jeevan and Jaivik her gold like brothers.
Seeing them brought a joy that was unexplanable. This warmt in their hearts, just beyond this world. There reunion felt like a chapter straight out of a fairytale. The three huged each other like it was the end of the world. They were wiping each other's tears telling, each other how much they loved them, how they'll never leave each other's side and how much they missed each other and stuff they always knew yet never spoke of.
In a while they calmed down. Jeevan explained that they'll be leaving soon. Hearing this Janhavi went to
exchange goodbyes. She went in, told that the two were her brothers. Which explained why the two seemed familiar. It was simply because of their resemblance. She further explained that she will be leaving soon.
She said,"No matter where I go never in my life will I forget what I learned here, from you all. Aakhand, you taught me, to have hope, to try as when you do the possibility of things changing for the good increases. Seeing you, I am able to believe my brothers will stand up for themselves too. Thank you!"
"Thank you too big sis! If I had never talked to you neither would I have stood up for myself nor would I have known the things I now do. You motivated me to tell the things I alaways wanted to my brother, you restored my hope against the curse. I'll never forget you aswell!"
The two hugged each other. She turned to Amrita and hugged her.
"I saw in you what I had never thought of, judging people by how they act, look and all is just stupid. For
behind masks people hide their true kind self. Thank you!"
"You are so nice! I too will never forget the memories I forged with you! Being around you was nice and fun. I have only a few friends almost equal to none, thanks for being one of them. Thank you for making me feel normal. Thank you!"
"Big brother Anant, you helped me see through what I was overlooking. You thought me what I forget, life goes up and down just like a seesaw but what matters the most through this all is that we remain ourselves through it all. Thank you for being my mentor!"
She hugged her mentor hard to let go.
"Thanks a lot for being my family and creating a space where I can be myself. Thanks for letting me know that even if we are hundred light years away, these bonds that we share are not going to waver."
A brief moment of silence followed as the four embraced the memories, bonds, feelings they had experienced together with each other, finally they were ready to leave.
"I am ready to leave." She said
Jeevan opened his diary and started reading out loud
"The three of you have done a magnificent job, now you may return home, the temporary door is present in this house. That is why it feels so off."
It continued to say where the permanent door was. By following its directions they were able to locate the permanent door. Jeevan operated it and they were finally able to return home.