Chapter 11
Garv strained to keep awake as he attached some screws to the car tyre. It had been a week since the night Samar had left and he hadn't been able to sleep much. It had got to a point where he'd work long into the night just to busy himself and keep his mind distracted. His little brother was out there somewhere and the last thing he wanted to do was sleep. He and Adharsh had gone nuts worrying their heads about Samar, fearing the worse and trying not to imagine the his body lying in a ditch somewhere . But then they'd learnt that Rajbir's body had been found on the same night that Samar had ran away. Garv was somewhat relieved at first to hear that the body belonged to Rajbir.. It was short lived though as they grew more anxious wondering what Samar had gotten himself into. He didn't think his little brother capable of hurting a fly let alone a person. All the while Adharsh had simply kept quiet, and got on with things as normal, which irritated Garv to no end though he knew better than to confront him about it. Yet he somehow knew Adharsh was more worried about Samar than him, it had probably set his mind into a spin if Samar were to be found guilty..he would end up in jail for sure and their hard work over the years would have been all for nothing. Since Samar left, he and Adharsh had grown distant. One time he was working late into the night and Adharsh had stumbled upon him at the DX garage working alone.
'Come on Garv. You need to sleep.' He sounded almost commanding and his voice had a ring of impatience to it.
'How can you act as if nothing's happened? What's wrong with you?!' Garv had lashed out incredulously.
'Fine. Carry on being childish like this but it's not going to bring him back!' Adharsh had stormed out and they'd never bring it up after. He'd already lost Samar but he didn't want to lose Adharsh too, so instead of arguing back he kept quiet too.
All they'd only ever talk about from then on was the mere necessary, otherwise there was thick silence between them neither of them wanting to bring up the subject that was on the verge of their minds.
A hand clamped down on his shoulder as he finished screwing in the knut. It was Adharsh.
Garv looked at him expectantly.
'Come home kid, you can't go on like this.' His eyebrows were furrowed as he looked at his younger brother with concern.
Garv shook his head and continued without giving him a reply.
'Look I know about your affair.' Adharsh said calmly.
Garv turned to look at him with surprise.
'Your girl phoned up the house. She's sick worried about you. Says you haven't been answering her calls.'
Garv looked away guiltily. He had neglected her since the incident,even though she had nothing to do with Samar's disappearance.
'How long were you planning on keeping it a secret?' Adharsh said quietly.
'I was going to tell you about her but then the whole thing with Samar..'
'So why didn't you?' Adharsh said harshly.
'I didn't want you upset.'
'Why cos she's a Soc? And her brother was best friends with Rajbir? Cos if her brother ever found out that the good looking greaser, brother of the boy who could possibly be involved in his friends murder was shacking up with his sister he'd gut you like a pig.' He replied bluntly.
'Leave me alone, I don't need anyone right now. I just want to be alone!'
Adharsh lowered his head and sighed.
'Come on Garv, I didn't mean that.' He said with a sudden change of warmth in his voice. He stooped down to sit next to him. 'Look, I know this whole thing with Samar is upsetting. You don't think I'm scared too? Hell I lie in bed but all I can think about is how this would never have happened had I cut him some slack. I shouldn't have hit him...But I get worried you know..for him. And you.'
Garv hugged his brother. Poor guy was really just looking out for them, it was so easy to forget that when Adharsh was so stern and serious all the time. That was just his way.
'I'm sorry Adharsh, I can't help feeling like this. It's just that he's gone, and he might never come back, its not the same without him.' he paused 'I'm not strong like you.' His voice was starting to break as he hugged his elder brother tightly and sobbed on his shoulder.
Adharsh let him weep for a while patting his head while scruffing his hair. They remained in a embrace for a long time till Garv's tears subsided.
'Listen Garv. Don't be cruel to her, you ought to call her back. She's really into you.'
'You can yell at me all you like Adharsh, I should have told you about her long before.' He'd underestimated him. He forgot that Adharsh had been in a long running relationship, till she ran out on him for some Soc with money. Yeh he was well aware what it felt like to love a woman. Then get duped by her.
'You've managed to keep it a secret so long.. I just want you to keep out of trouble. Watch your girl too.'
Garv smiled and hugged him again.
'Alright kid, lets head home'. Adharsh said keeping his arm around his shoulder as they made the walk back.
Upon reaching their house they found the door ajar.
'Who's there?' Garv said moving his hand onto his jeans pocket. It could be just one of the guys but it never hurt to be sure.
'Garv?' Came the timid voice from the kitchen.
'Sonarika? What are you doing here at this hour?'
Adharsh locked the door behind him.
'Sonarika? Why are you here, shouldn't you be at your home?'
She stepped out into the main room looking frazzled while fumbling with her shawl. She was shaking but whether it was from the chill or fear he couldn't tell.
'Well I..' She lowered her eyes.
Garv came forward and took her hands. He leaned in close to her,
'Why did you come here? I was going to call you' he said softly in a low voice that only she could hear.
'Let her speak Garv' Adharsh said from behind him.
'I didn't know where to go so I came here...Ankur, my brother is going mad, he came back home completely wasted, he's bent on revenge against your brother and his friend for killing Rajbir. I'm frightened of what he might do.. it's just him and me at home for the moment.'
'What? Wait..Kill? No. You're mistaken, Samar would never kill-'
'It was Arjun who did it but they are trying to blame your brother too.' She said trying not to quiver while looking at Adharsh.
The brothers exchanged looks at one another. At least there was some reassurance in the fact that Samar hadn't committed the murder. But Arjun..
Adharsh ran his hand through his hair and flopped down on the sofa
What the hell went down that night that he felt he had to kill him? He rubbed his forehead then looked at Sonarika who was trying not to shiver. He signaled to Garv who went to fetch his jacket to wrap it around her but she stopped him.
'Listen girl, you look petrified as hell. Maybe you should spend the night here with us, you'll be safe here.' Adharsh said gently. He looked at Garv. 'I guess you won't mind sharing his bed, seeing as how you two are.. close.' There was a slight sarcasm underlying his tone. Sonarika looked abashed while Garv stole a side look at her, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
'There's no need for it, I'd much rather sleep alone.' She responded. Garv studied her while she avoided looking at him.
'Then sleep in my bed, I'll take the sofa' Garv said kindly while she kept quiet.
'I don't want to disturb you, I'll sleep here.' She replied addressing Adharsh and ignoring Garv.
'Trouble in paradise' mumbled Adharsh under his breath before hopping off the sofa.
'Don't worry, you're safer upstairs, Garv can sleep with me. I'll get you some fresh sheets'
'Thank you kindly. Garv's always speaking highly of you, and I can see why.' She said politely.
He smiled back before exiting the room and bought her the sheets.
'Garv will show you to his room, and we'll catch up tomorrow.' He walked to the door and turned to look at them again. 'You both have some explaining to do, especially you.' He said pointing to Garv who looked at him wide-eyed. They both stood looking stumped for a while.
'Let's go up.' Sonarika said avoiding Garv's eyes as she made her way upstairs while he stalked behind her walking in silence. He opened the door and followed her with his eyes as she walked past him into his room. He shut the door and approached her from behind, pulling her close to him, and holding her arms in a strong grip. His lips grazed the nape of her neck, and she felt his breath warming her skin.
'Hey.. are you angry with me?' he whispered affectionately.
She gave him no response and turned her head the other way. He followed her movement and smiled in amusement while smoothing her hair away from her face. He slipped the shawl of her saree off her shoulder while running his hands down her arms and round her waist and kissed her softly along her shoulder and neck. She was holding his hands trying to prise them off her waist but he was too strong.
'I'm sorry' he said heartily. It was a genuine apology, he had missed her but he didn't want to trouble her with another yet of his family problems.
She let out a sigh and turned her face to meet his and felt his breath on hers.
'Garv please. I'm conscious that your brother is here, I don't want to make the wrong impression.'
'He'll understand.' He said burrowing his face in her soft hair. Though he was slightly thrown off guard by the fact that Adharsh wished to talk with them both the following day. Yet he did feel Adharsh had taken it quite well, better than he'd expected even.. perhaps the other looming things going on right now put things into some perspective, that finding out that his brother was in a secret relationship could turn out to be no big deal was certainly beyond Garv's own expectation.
'Forgive me or I won't leave you alone.' He whispered, huskily into her ear.
'I forgive you.'
'Hmm..I'm not convinced.' He said charmingly while squeezing her tightly in his arms and nestling his face between her neck snd shoulders. She was squirming in his hold now.
'Garv?! This isn't the time. I don't want to make use of your brothers kindness.'
He released her and she turned to face him smoothing her hair and pulling her shawl in place.
He ran his eyes down her body, a curl forming on his lips and stepped closer to her while pulling his shirt off and hurling it to one side.
'What are you doing?' She gasped looking flustered as he approached her forcing her to back up against the bed.
'I'm changing in my room. It's what I do.'His eyes twinkled with mischief while he commenced on unbuckling his belt. She squinted her eyes shut as he slipped into some night shorts. Then standing within inches of her he snuck her a quick kiss on her lips while her eyes were closed. She opened her eyes quickly and pushed him back indignant at his brazenness, but he grabbed her hands within seconds and pinned her down onto the bed.
'Why don't you leave, your brother will be wondering why you're taking long'
'Its my room, I'll go when I please.' He said playfully.
'You have the gall' She said writhing under his weight.
'I'm glad you've made yourself at home' He teased.
'I know you're trying to provoke me. I'm not falling for your trick this time. I'm still mad at you.' She said turning her face away from him.
'Sure that's why you came here' She threw him an incredulous look.
'I came here cos I'm scared of my brother and I can't trust any of my friends.'
'And cos you love me.'
She looked at him exasperatedly.
He pressed closer to her till his mouth touched hers and their breaths intermingled. The familiar touch of his warm skin made her relax. He gazed at her with a tenderness in his eyes. She kissed him quickly and blushed profusely surprised by her own daring. He smiled at her before kissing her slowly and loosened his hands around her wrists, trailing them down her arms and the side of her body. She yielded into him slowly running her hands around his shoulders and clinging onto him tightly while he ventured his left hand down and around her thigh pulling her close to him as their kiss became intense. She could feel the burning heat of his body as he pressed against her and closed the gap between them while they stopped intermittently for breath.
She turned her face away trying to regain her breath as he followed her with his mouth
'Garv you really need to go' she gasped breathlessly managing to pull away a little but he kissed her with an urgency indulging in the taste of her lips before running his mouth along her jaw and down her neck while continuing to pull her by her leg, closely into him then slid his right hand slowly up her body. She abruptly pushed him away and got off the bed.
'Garv, please. Just because I'm helpless doesn't mean you can take advantage of it.' She said heatedly. Garv looked at her stunned while resting his elbow on the bed. He got up promptly and walked pass her throwing her a fiery look before making an exit.
Sonarika sat on the bed and immediately regretted what she had just said. He was only trying to make up for not paying her any attention, and she was too busy being mad at him to realize it.
She walked tentatively towards the door and peered into the corridor. All the doors were closed, he was probably already in his brothers room, as if that wasn't awkward enough. She decided it was not worth it, maybe he'd calm down by the morning though she very much doubted it, and made her way back inside his room in pensive silence.
Edited by daenerysnow - 9 years ago
