"Chotey."
She asked tentatively.
"Yes, Di?"
Arnav replied without looking at her as he took his bag from Hari Prakash.
"Akash told me that the show was a success."
"Yes, Di."
"Congratulations, Chotey."
"Thanks, Di."
"Akash also told me that some accident happened .. some girl fell .. and you caught her .."
Anjali watched her brother freeze. She was not sure what it was but his body language seemed very unfamiliar to her. And then his brother looked up. The very next instant, she knew, he was not angry. But there was something altogether different in his countenance. He seemed intense, grave.. a bit brooding?
"I just wanted to say, Chotey .. I mean .. be easy on her .. "
Anjali watched her brother closing his restless eyes. When he looked at her again, he was back to his regular self. Unreadable.
"It was an accident, Di. It was not her fault."
Anjali stared at him as if he had grown two horns. Not her fault? Since when had he learnt to let go of mistakes? Then she concluded, perhaps he had already lashed out on her.
"Did you scold her a lot?'
Anajali could clearly see frustration rising in his eyes.
"No, Di. Can I go now?"
Anjali blinked. He did not scold her?
"Haan Chotey. Go. Tum theek to hona?"
Anjali noticed the torrent of emotions suddenly inundating his impassive face and then subsiding at quickly as it came.
"Yes, Di. I am fine."
330