Love within reason

vi...

e neighbouring kids playing with their siblings. He wondere

e had flown one, with his brother. He stood for a long time, ha

rithvi thought about the boy they had seen; he was sure the boy was his half brother

ached him with a disdainful look "what are you doing her

homework at night". She shook her head "you do it whenever I ask you to..I've already go

his neigbour boys had seen his mother fighting and had wasted no time in telling everyone about it. He was bett

ar and walking in. "You know what your teacher wants to

ays worried about their students". U

ed "I never said that". She scoffed "I beat you because you're a bad boy and I want to

er round of her attack. She gave an icy look "where'

not finding him playing with the other boys. Worried, he

has to go somewhere and left" said the boy. Prithvi fe

s arranging the dishes on the table "

vi lied, referring to one of his brother's friend

hed the place he had first come with his

seated under the banyan

ere?" Prithvi chided softly. He wiped his ey

aped at him "I want him back bhaiya..I want a father too..I don't want my friends to make fun of me..you know what they say about our father

ed "but we have to deal with all this...we have to be strong for each o

ou ice cream..your favourite mango flavoured one". Pratham beame

en with their father "what are you doing here?" Bu

" Prithvi stared at the boy who was almost Pratham's age "just go home" he said sim

er..you're a thief!" He looked around and before Prithvi could realize what was h

ed on the ground. Pratham stared at his b

ed him "is he dead bhaiya?" He blinked and looked

de me" he slurred. Prithvi held his hand "promise me you won't tell

knelt down at the boy who was writhing in pain, he looked at his br

one last brief gl

through his right eye "come on..I'm

ding his eye. "Of course... we'll call her

from behind. The boy cried harder "he hit me papa..

lse was a blur..the last thing he remembered was the sl

◇

ade their way into the narrow street "why a

he said "he's our cousin, no matter what....an

ng because you asked me to..I had promised mys

house..." Pratham chuckled "we're going to

hvi joked as they reached their d

s the entrance together as ther

rmament to accommodate a lot of people and the man

ratham supressed his laughter "please behave...and there he is.." he pointed

cle said in a cheery voice after they s

wasn't in the mood for socialising with anyone, even his uncle with whom they

a smile. Prithvi remembered his brother's words

hello cousin!"came a booming voice and Prithvi forced himself

Prithvi but shorter and slightly darker, Rajat was handsome if only h

as well "I'm happy for you..and you look great". Prithvi quir

way?" Pratham gave a small shrug of his shoulder "I'm studyin

enched his fists; clearly his cousin hadn't grown up, he was still

oad?" Rajat reminded him; the asshole. Prithvi gave a s

hat his cousin was doing by purposely goading him. He exchanged a nasty look with his brother who star

ithvi complained haughtily "I don't underst

ed "maamu called me last night and requested a lot to attend

glared and he soon bit his lip "okay fine..once the damn r

gs from the elders while the others watched, Pratham nudged his brother"Come on, let's

"this is Prithvi and his younger brother Pratham,

o tie the knot? You've made us wait for long huh!" Raj

m alreay hooked up with this girl I met recentl

.we're living together apparently..after she's done inheriting h

he kept quiet for his bride's sake "okay...I've to go..by

after they reached where his bike was pa

m wiped his eyes after he had laughed "I'm sorry for dra

know that" Prithvi said and Pratham laughed al

been a year or probably more than that, he thought pondering

sure she wouldn't be. But he wasn't going to let Rajat

e was supposed to send his

◇

or disturbed sleep but Prithvi wasn't in the mood. H

ched him "sir's calling you...in fact he

forehead; he needed to s

he moment he entered the cabin "I had already given th

w sir..just give me a day and I'm su

"I gave you enough opportunities and second

med..surely he had been given a lot of chances b

he wouldn't have cared about his jo

pped "give me one good reason why

k of only one reason that sprang to his mind at the

would bulge out of their sockets, Prithvi thought "you

. Sen looked at him for a while, as though trying to digest the inf

nyone about this either.. only you" he noticed his boss puff up a little with pride at that s

from the chair and approached him with joy "congratulations! I

mething good came out of this marriag

this part was trouble "she's a..blogger" he said, the fir

a laugh "Aarti...she's a science major..and studying for rese

ntroduce her?" Sen had an evil gleam in his eyes "

vi wistfully "oh no..we thought

e said, his tone changing to concern "but I also need you to concentrate on your ca

sighing with relief; the

s met with surprised stares and a few glares. But

first to erupt into anger mixed with

eard the conversation and had wasted

h..it's true..". Kevin shook his head in irritation "shit!" he swore "I thoug

vin demanded angrily "who the hell is it anyway?" Pr

t him, with Teena just staring at

our relationship.." Prithvi explained, trying to look s

Teena spoke up, for the first time "it's because of some revenge isn't it? You want to prove to Mai..yo

game..if you can't digest this simple fact then I can't help you all.. I'm sorry but this is why I hid things from you..I w

uldn't tell you guys". Prashanth nodded "it's okay man..we're really

ted "we want to meet our dearest bhabi of course!"he p

w he was screwed "listen guys..

mind at all..this weekend is fine I guess" they began discussing t

on his wife's face when he woul