chapter 10

Sanjay took Rahul to park as he promised, it left Rahul truly excited and amusedHe is constantly beaming at his sister and her new friend."This is the best treat I could ever have." Bhumi smiled at Sanjay."His smile is the best gift." She said sincerely."Thank you" Sanjay said bowing his head a bit, whispering in her ear.She could feel his breath for a second, her heart is racing fast, he is standing a mere inches away from her.His scent, a very distinct mixture of cologne and hair wax hit her so strongly, it's so masculine and very unique."Bhumi" Sanjay whisperedShe turned her head quickly and saw Sanjay conversing with someone on the phone.Did she hallucinate? She questioned herself.Maybe or may not..She shook her head, tapping her head a bit gently.Sanjay caught her gaze and raised his eyebrow at her, still conversing on the phone.She might be mistaken, she thought.Sanjay smiled mischievously quickly shoving his phone in his pocket. He played a trick again.He loves to play tricks, he is habituated, Neeraj and Kunal are the worst suffered ones. Especially Neeraj, he loves to trick Swapna a lot and makes Neeraj a victim all the time.He glanced at Bhumi, such a pure and innocent soul she is? He always wonders.She snickered, Did she find out? Sanjay got worried for a second.Maybe she is just smiling at her silly imagination. He got convinced.Rahul got himself engaged in one of his favorite sports, racing.They both walked and sat on a bench stealing a few glances occasionally."Do you know music? Can you sing?"Bhumi asked Sanjay, out of the blue."What?" Sanjay almost freaked at her question."Why?" He looked at her in shock.She laughed at his reaction."Do you want me to sing?" He laughed with her."No..." She giggled."You own a music company....." She thought to give an explanation."I learned a few basics of music but I am a horrible singer" He gave a pleasant smile.He doesn't want any explanation, Why would he needs it."Hu.." She nodded."Di" Rahul is waving at Bhumi with a broad smile, it just melted her heart."What's his age?" Sanjay asked Bhumi a bit hesitantly."11, He will turn 11 in a few days," She said waving back at Rahul.Such a huge age difference between these two siblings, Sanjay can't get the logic and stood there looking at them one after the other.Bhumi is 12 years older than Rahul."I hate to say this but....." She stopped for a second looking at Sanjay, his quizzical face."Just leave it Bhumi, No need to talk about it if you are not comfortable." He assured.She clasped his hand tightly and closed her eyes quickly.Sanjay caught her expression, She is struggling, searching for words."You can trust me Bhumi...You can share anything to me, I promise you it will be with me." He gently pressed her palm."Rahul is a fostered child." She said gasping some air.A single tear is rolling over her cheek, She truly hates to admit it.Sanjay felt a lump in his throat.Her tears affect him the worst, he shut his eyes quickly.Sanjay's eyes became moist for a second. She is not what he sees.She is much more than that, very brave and quietly mysterious."He is not my biological brother." She wiped her tears."My mom brought him home when he is ten days infant, you know he was so cute, "She chuckled with teary eyes."Those were the days we were coping up with my dad's death, He was our savior.""You know Sanjay, mom fought a long battle with his father for his custody, He is brute, womanizer." She finished.Sanjay looked at her tired face.Sanjay...for the first time she spoke his name.A smile crept on his lipsSir to Sanjay, he smiled again.So many things are happening in her life, His heart clenched at the thought.How could she smile?keeping all her worries aside? How could she?He shook his head and asked the most pestering question."What about your relatives? Don't you have any relatives?"He asked in a feeble tone.He is so hesitant to ask it but he truly wanted to know, he saw how those two siblings were struggling hard to digest the bitter fact, her mom's death at the hospital."No one....""We have no one in this world...except a stepbrother." She sighed."Stepbrother" Sanjay pressed the bridge of his nose."Stepbrother who hates us and my mother." She told him with a pale face.How can he hate to Bhumi? Sanjay got surprised by her words."I swear, No one wants to be hated.""It's a curse..." She sniveled.Sanjay didn't speak anything, sat there listening to her words.She needs someone to share her pain, cry her heart out.She chose him, He really felt happy about it.She trusted him, he has to be responsible and should keep up her trust in him."It literally kills Sanjay, It literally kills.""I don't know why he hates me? What did I do?""I love him Sanjay, I always dreamt of having a big brother, he will be our true savior and solve all our problems, just like this in a snap of a finger," She said snapping her hand."You know, I saw him when I was 12, at dad's funeral, I thought he would take care of me, but he didn't come.""He didn't turn up...""Still I love him Sanjay, but he hates me." She broke into tears."Maybe I miss my father too much" She chuckled."What did I ask him? Nothing but love and affection?" She squeezed her eyes shut."Who is your stepbrother where do...?" Sanjay is about to ask something.Rahul came back to these two, stood there gulping down some water.Bhumi smiled at her brother quickly wiping her face with a handkerchief.He had a brief chat with them and went back to play another game.Epiphany hit Bhumi hard, What just she did? She cried her heart out before Sanjay.Who is Sanjay? and What does she know about him? How can she say all this to a stranger?She sat in silence, glancing at him, his face void of any expression.They didn't speak for a while."I know, I know how exactly it feels"Sanjay spoke after a second"Apathy, hatred breaks heart into pieces Bhumi."" It's so easy to hate a person, but being hated for no reason is totally disheartening, and no one deserves this punishment.""I have gone through that phase.""She left me Bhumi, She left me hating me without my fault, any proper reason." He looked at her.She is listening to his words silently.She never saw him like this so fragile and helpless.Mr.Sanjay the powerful Businessman, has another side, a sensitive side, very much hidden from society, people."I regret that day, I let her go out of my life without a proper reason.""I still regret""Why didn't I confront my feelings to her and try to know the reason behind her hatred.""I didn't try to wipe out the misunderstanding, Instead I let her go blaming me, my fidelity""I would always think what if I was brave enough to stop her, clear the misunderstanding, Swipe away that hatred.""I regret it still today"He gasped some air.She nodded her head with a pale smile.He looked so different, She wondered how he maintains a tranquil face all the time."I suggest you  sincerely to confront your feelings to him.""Let him know how much you love him,, What exactly you need?""He needs to know you are at no fault, What all you need and deserve is nothing but love and affection."He stressed each and every word.She nodded at his words, Maybe he is true. She needs to confront her feelings to Kunal and talk to him properly.She is afraid of him, his hatred but one day or another she needs to confront it.Can't leave him as such, he is ruining his life.She made her mind, he looked back at Sanjay.This time he sat there staring at a blank.The rest of the day went calmly, None of them wants to take about serious issues. They became children and played with Rahul.Finally, the moment came they left Rahul at the Hostel.Bhumi's eyes became moist, She struggled so hard, somehow she managed not to cry in front of Rahul.Sanjay too felt bad to see them both.It's only Sanjay and Bhumi now, Sanjay wants to spend some time with Bhumi. He wants her to be with him some more time.He made the arrangements on the phone and a surprise is waiting for her.To be continued.........Please let me know how it is?Is it boring?if yes let me know?Lot more to come in coming chapters.Please do vote and commentThank youTake care.