Baby Brother

"Hi Punya" said Thrishul who walked into the ward.

"Hi" said Punya softly.

"How's he?" asked Thrishul rubbing away the hair on the forehead of Rishi.

"Recovering I think"

"Hmmm he's too young to handle all this, he'll be fine don't worry" assured Thrishul.

"Hope so" sighed Punya.

"Hi" said Prakruth holding the door of the ward.

"Oh Hi come on in" said Punya.

"No, I don't want to make the situation worst. Come out" he said.

"Wherever you're everything is worst" said Thrishul.

"Thrishul don't start" said Punya.

Thrishul rolled his eyes "Whatever, did you find who did this?"

"Yeah, that person has been warned not to do such things" said Prakruth.

"Only a warning?? I would've killed that person by now" said Thrishul.

"and end up in jail, behind bars. Learn how to handle situations calmly. Anger won't buy you anything" said Punya and walked out.

As they reached the hospital canteen, Punya started sobbing....

"Hey Hey what happened suddenly??" asked Prakruth and embraced her in his arms. Punya started crying letting out all her pain. Prakruth rubbed her back and tried to console her. After few minutes she started talking "Do you know who did this?" she asked.

"Not exactly but I know who's behind this" he said.

"Who??"

"I can't tell her name as she was not involved directly. She has used some people. Did your brother tell you it was a girl who told him all this stories??"

"Yeah he kind of mention it is she, but he didn't tell any name. If you know tell me"

"Not right now. You're not strong enough to handle it" he said.

"I can stay strong in front of everyone but I breakdown in front of you" sighed Punya.

"That means I'm the only person with whom you can be yourself, without wearing masks or acting"

"Yeah" she chuckled.

Prakruth embraced her warmly and kissed her forehead. She hid her face in his chest breathing calmly. After few minutes,

"Dear, last night Dad was sleeping here. He heard someone coming towards the ward and out of curiosity when he opened the door, he found the whole corridor to be empty. He said he didn't hear anyone run away. I was wondering how was it possible??"

"At what time was it? Should I check the CCTV footage of that floor?" asked Prakruth.

"No, May be my Dad was dreaming. He is not resting properly so might have felt a nightmare" said Punya.

"May be or may be not. You relax" said Prakruth. "I should talk to Varun uncle" thought Prakruth.

"You're providing enough energy to strengthen me" chuckled Punya.

"Mmm-hmmm" smiled Prakruth.

At evening when Varun came to the hospital, Thrishul and Punya were sitting and chatting inside the ward. Prakruth was standing outside.

"Hello my boy, why don't you come inside??" asked Varun.

"I'm fine outside Uncle" said Prakruth.'

"Come on in, I know how to handle the situation" said a young man who walked behind Varun.

"Hello Dr. Sudarshan, Nice to meet you" said Varun.

"Hello Mr. Varun. Dr. Murthy asked me to take special care about your child. I've collected enough information from his mother now you join me in understanding him, we'll talk to him about his deadliest fears" said Dr. Sudarshan.

"And you will take them away right?" asked Prakruth.

"If it was so easy, I would be the luckiest doctor on the Earth" chuckled Sudarshan.

"Sorry, the boy is just too much worried" said Varun.

"Guilty that this happened to him because of you??" asked Sudarshan.

Prakruth nodded a yes.

"Well, why do you think that??" asked the psychiatrist Sudarshan.

"I can explain if you come along" whispered Prakruth.

"Well let me examine the boy and then we'll chat in my cabin" said the doctor.

"Hmmm" said Prakruth and stood out while others went in.

After twenty long minutes, Dr. Sudarshan who came out signaled Prakruth to follow him.

Varun had instructed Thrishul to take Punya home.... When they came out, Punya saw Prakruth walking behind the doctor in the hallway.

"Prakruth" she called out.

"Shhhshhh, don't do that. Rishi isn't asleep yet even that name freaks him out. Moreover this is hospital Punya. Behave" said Thrishul.

"Oh I'm so sorry. I forgot. I'm tensed as hell" said Punya.

"Don't worry Punya, your baby brother will be taken care of. You go home and grab some sleep" said Dr. Sarala.

"Oh thanks doctor. Your presence alone relieves us from most of the trauma" said Punya.

"I know. Prakruth told me that. Take care dear" said Sarala and walked away.

Thrishul was quiet till they reached the parking area. "Well you don't need me if you have whole Prakruth family to take care of you and your brother" he said sarcastically.

"Don't be rude please" said Punya.

"I will be rude. I've got every right to be. It is always Prakruth. You can't imagine life without him right? Fine. I'm going. Do whatever you want with the Hero. I would be the villain" shouted Thrishul boarding the car and shut the door behind him. He drove off angrily leaving behind Punya alone.

Punya's head was so messed up that she decided to ignore his behavior. She stood there blacked out in the middle of parking lot. After an hour, when Prakruth came to the parking lot, he saw her still standing without moving. He approached her and called gently "Punya"

She looked up at him and said "Take me to farms please. I need peace"

"Ok as you say" he said and led her to the car. They reached the farms at dinner time. As she got down from the car, she felt her head was spinning and she fainted. Prakruth was fast at his feet, he got her before she hit the ground and carried her inside the house.

Gowri arrived immediately seeing her granddaughter carried by Prakruth "What happened?" she asked.

Prakruth slowly laid her on the couch and replied.

"I think she fainted. No proper sleep, no proper food. She might be stressed out. I'll call the resident doctor immediately" said Prakruth.

Resident doctor arrived in ten minutes, gave her an injection and advised a lot of rest with proper dinner tonight.

"Prakruth is there anything you both are hiding from us??" asked Eshwar.

"Nope Grandpa. Ask Punya when she wakes up" said Prakruth crossing his fingers for lying. He headed upstairs to fresh up. Grandparents waited for Punya to wake up.