Chapter 3

AYAN'S HOUSE 

Ayan got ready for school, putting his bag on his shoulder, slightly stepped out of his room. With slow and careful steps he reached the dining table where Tanvi his mother was setting the plates for breakfast. He silently moved there, putting his bag on the chair beside, sat on the other one. As usual, he was served with a sandwich and juice, of which he's bored now but didn't get the guts to say about his wishes. He started having his meal while Tanvi too sat for breakfast beside him. He shuddered on her nearness, for that instant he stopped biting, noticing everywhere observed his every work to confirm if he had made any mistake. And got a breath of relief after seeing everything was ok.

“ Parikshit, breakfast is ready " Tanvi gave a call for him in a loud voice. Ayan jerked at her shout, the sandwich from his hand drops in his lap, scaring him to the bone. Tanvi saw that how Ayan's pants got messed up due to it, which boosts her anger and she shouted, " what the hell is this, don't you have eyes" 

This was enough to make Ayan shiver in fear, tears started rolling down his cheeks. He slightly mumbles "so sorry"

“ Hell with your sorry, clean this place then go change your dress "she again shouted, scaring the kid.

Ayan in hurry got up, unfortunately, his hand was hit by the glass of juice. That glass first fell on Tanvi spilling everything on her dress, then down the floor. Ayan was so frightened, he couldn't understand what just happened, and before he could even try he got a tight slap from her which throws him on his chair. Ayan whines loudly.

" Shut up. Just shut up " Tanvi shouted, pulling him up from the chair by holding his arms tight enough to imprint her fingers over there.

Ayan hushed his cry trying much harder to have a hold on his weeping, but the poor soul couldn't take the pain and ended up having continuous hiccups followed by a choked throat which left him coughing. Burning sensation on his cheek, painful hold on his arms over that Tanvi's anger-filled eyes made his whole body shake violently.

" What happened, what he did now," Parikshit asked reaching the table after seeing them like this.

Ayan flinched more on his presence, horror can be seen on his face. He restrained his cry as much as he can. Because he doesn't want another slap, for sure.

“ Look at him, destroyed my dress. You know how costly it was" 

Parikshit glared at Ayan scaring him to death. Although Ayan didn't have the strength to say anything, still mustering up all his courage he spoke, " I'll clean" 

" You should" 

Ayan kept sobbing, trembling but still cleared the place then went to change his uniform, it's his first day in this new school. Ayan got dressed up again, looked himself into the mirror, his eyes were red, teary, left cheek was red too. Moving a little closer to the mirror he gasped finding three of the finger imprints over there while others were a little faded. His whole cheek was having proof of the abuse he just faced. Tears rolled down his face again, he turned back and looked at the door moving a little towards it checked where his parents are and after finding them down busy with their breakfast, taking a few back steps he covered his mouth with both of his hands so tightly, then he cried which he was holding till now.

Much later, Ayan was on the way to school with his father without having breakfast. Tanvi didn't make the other one for him as she was getting late, he was hungry but killed his hunger just to avoid scoldings for asking for food after messing up everything. 

Both Parikshit and Tanvi were not foreseeing a child, but it happened, Tanvi's family get to learn about it and made them married, they were still unknown of Parikshit being already married to Sneha and having Sid. Both of them didn't know even the first word of parenting, not knowing how to take care of the child. For Tanvi, Ayan was the first child but a kind of burden to handle and for Parikshit he had Siddhant earlier but still, he never cared as Sneha was doing that work, so they know nothing and hired a nanny for Ayan in the early days, but later they asked her to leave as they felt Ayan is grown up so don't need anyone. Later on, when Tanvi demanded to stay in his bungalow, Parikshit threw Sid and Sneha out of that place. Their concern will be their matters first than Ayan, they didn't even try to keep company with him while Ayan felt left alone, as days pass his craving for Love and care increased more but didn't have anyone who'd love him.

As Parikshit dropped him at the school gate, Ayan hastily came out to run away from him as soon as possible, he was running wherever the way goes without having any idea where his class will be, he kept running emerged in his thoughts of being away from his father so didn't notice Siddhant coming that way whereas Sid's concentration was on Akshat, so he missed noticing and both bumped. 

" Careful" escaped from Sid's mouth after watching Ayan falling backward but as a quick response, Sid held his one hand preventing him from falling back.

Ayan was feared of falling, his heart was already racing so fast now became faster, even his body started trembling. Siddhant felt his hand shivering and understood he's scared, he slightly squeezed Ayan's hand "it's ok, it's nothing. You are fine, calm down "

Ayan just nodded, he slightly took his eyes up to look at the person who helped him, his face turned pale knowing it's Siddhant, and he remembered that Siddhant too hates him.

" Already got slapped in the morning, now not again, please God "Ayan prayed silently in between his cry after knowing he bumped with Siddhant who was yet to see his face…

Siddhant crouched on the ground then lift Ayan's face holding his chin, "you are ok? "

Ayan was shocked seeing Sid's soft behavior, he felt good that at least Siddhant is not rude to him, a little smile crept on his lips when he remembered that after long a time someone is asking about his well-being, he nods his head in affirmation.

" That's like a brave boy" Sid complements making Ayan smile e wide, his eyes twinkling on this appreciation. Before Ayan could speak, Sid asked, "what's this good boy's name? " 

That's it. Ayan's face went small thinking Sid was behaving nicely just because he doesn't know him, fear raised in his heart again. He was sure that Sid too will behave rudely if he gets to know who he is.

Siddhant looked at his confused face and asked again, "tell me your name" 

" Ayan" he slowly whispered and looked at Sid's face which was constricting due to sudden hatred, tears formed in Ayan's eyes.

" Ayan and? " Siddhant queried, controlling his anger.

Sudden change in Sid's voice made him cry, still, he tried not to cry, he again told "Ayan … Ayan" 

" And? " Sid questioned, raising his eyebrow like waiting for him to complete his full name.

" Ayan j…" Siddhant left Ayan's hand and moved a little backward, this breaks Ayan, after a long time someone showed care to him but now going away just because he's Ayan Joshi. He couldn't take it and before Sid could react more Ayan jumped to answer holding Sid's hand "Ayan Jaiswal, I'm Ayan Jaiswal" 

Siddhant who only knew that Parikshit's son's name is Ayan Joshi had never seen him actually, so he believed that the boy in front of him is Ayan Jaiswaal, not the one he was thinking of. He took a breath of relief, gave a soft smile to Ayan, and ruffles his hair while Ayan smiled hesitantly because he lied. 

" Which class? "

" 3rd, first day," Ayan mumbles slowly.

" Roli's class, what a surprise" Siddhant becomes excited knowing Ayan is in Roli's class.

Ayan: 3rd B, where it is

" Oh it's another section, not Roli's" Sid was a little disappointed, and Ayan was giving a confused look at him thinking what happened. Sid bit his tongue at his stupid behavior, with a sheepish smile Sid directed him the way, before leaving Sid tried to pinch his nose but stopped when he found slap marks on his cheek.

Sid's forehead shrinks in pain looking at the cruelty of a person on this kid who was barely 6-7 years old, Sid softly rubbed his cheek with his thumb. Even that soft touch made Ayan jump in pain, Sid's heart ached on it, he slightly asked "who did this… " Before he could complete, Ayan pulled himself from Sid's hold and ran towards his class while crying.

Ayan was already late and the encounter with Sid made him a little delayed. Wiping his tears, he stood at the entrance of his class catching the teacher's attention while other kids were busy in themselves.

Deepak Verma, his class mentor called him inside, with trembling steps Ayan reached him, " first day? " 

Ayan nods Yes instead of saying, then another question was asked " what's your name "

" Ayan " he answered slowly, keeping his head down whereas his eyes were pooled with tears.

" Joshi? Ayan Joshi right" he asked for confirmation to which Ayan nodded again, and soon another question was thrown "why so late on the first day itself, " Deepak asked holding Ayan's hand, but he felt alarmed when Ayan shivers, Deepak was very gentle and caring with kids and seeing Ayan shivering in fear he felt uneasy. He lifts Ayan's face to have a look, and he too caught the slap marks. Deepak always felt that children should only be loved and treated tenderly but seeing Ayan made him worried, he cupped Ayan's face gently then asked so softly "is everything ok" 

Ayan sobs at this, he never knew that school will be much better placed than his house where people will care for him, who are mere strangers. Deepak hugs him then consoled him and also tried to know what has happened but Ayan didn't open up, he was frightened. Thinking about how his parents will behave if they get to know that he had complained about them. After comforting him, Deepak made him sit on the bench just in front of him then started his class of English. On the other hand, Sid too went to his class, on one side he was happy that he met Roli, and now he isn't changing the school, his talking with Akshat was quite peaceful, but somewhere his mind is disturbed thinking about Ayan.

your reaction

1

nice

3

awesome!

5

loved

0

lol

0

omg

0

cry