Chapter 5 - A Trip?

 Aryan sat there for quite a while patting Darpan's head in his lap. He sure was the younger brother and in no way was Darpan less than him - physically. When it came to emotions and feelings though , Darpan was quite soft and always got affected easily. Hence no one really spoke any harsh words in his presence. 

 Aryan wished he could just do something to help his brother. Even after a whole damn year, people still dared to mention that cursed event in front of him. It was a part of reason why he wasn't happy with Darpan accepting the proposal. He wished he could just erase the incident from happening and save his family's reputation. But it was all in the past now. 

 Darpan had managed to dry his tears and collected himself. Aryan aided his brother to slowly stand up . With eyes puffy and a nose redder than red, he turned to his brother. 

 " I'm so sorry Aryan. As your older brother, I keep on babbling about manners and what not. I feel bad you had to see me in my shameful state. I really am no use being a older brother, am I?" Darpan smiled bitterly resting his hands on his brother's shoulders.

 " That's not true! Don't underestimate yourself. You're a typical older brother alright, you're so annoying and unbearable. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're not. Plus if you were never present, who would stop me from bullying Chhaya and Amina? " Aryan replied shaking his hands off of him . 

 " I wish I could have given the beating of a lifetime to that Old fart. Who does he think he is ? Barging in here and spewing all that crap! If only that motherfu-"

 "Language,Aryan!" Darpan looked at him with the still red angry eyes. Aryan just laughed and helped his brother brush off his clothes. "Dont curse something like that. I agree the man was in the wrong but it is not right to drag someone's blood relations into this matter." 

 " Do you still care about cursing the wrong person in a situation like this? Whatever! That person wasn't brought up properly by his parents, it is. They probably deserve it too" Aryan glances at Darpan who now has began collecting their belongings preparing to leave. He quietly gathers all his stuff as well before helping his brother lock the shop; and muttering a hushed ' fuck this shit!' to which he gained another glare from his brother. 

 The walk home was silent as the things that happened today were weighing on both their minds but neither said it out loud . After reaching home, both were quiet and tried to put up a front to avoid being asked what happened today. However the excuses were not enough for the watchful eyes of Neema. 

 " Now, will you telling me where did you get these red eyes from? Did Aryan do something?" Neema asked at the dining table staring pointedly at Aryan. 

 " Come on, Ma! Don't you trust your own son a bit? Plus, who are you even talking about here? He is the one that makes me cry everyday. Dare anyone make this big baby cry in your presence?" Aryan responded to the distrustful gaze of his mother feeling a little hurt. " Fine! Don't believe me! It's always me getting blamed." he muttered as he gulped down a mouthful of potato curry and choked briefly before downing a glass of water. 

 Vishay and Chhaya laughed while Neema chuckled at her son's behaviour. Darpan had a small smile on his face as he continued to poke his rice. Neema realized it was futile asking them anything they didn't want to answer. Seeing no reaction from Darpan , she let that topic be. The rest of the dinner was in utmost silence until Vishay cleared his throat. 

 " Ah! I've been meaning to tell you this since before. While returning from the town meeting today, I happened to run into Saarthak-ji*. " He drank a glass of water before putting aside his plate. 

 " You mean Ashmit's father?" Neema asked still finishing up her meal. 

 " Yes, it was just like I expected. Saarthak-ji had been requested to help with the decoration selection. So he and I had a chat for a bit." He nodded and continued. " Though I was surprised,I must say ; I don't know what the Sharma's are thinking. They are really inviting everyone in the ceremony. At this point half of the whole ChandShikhar knows."

 " But did Saarthak-Chachu* agree?" Aryan paused his meal to question. 

 " Yeah, and that's why I was telling you this. The thing is Saarthak-ji has some connections in Chandranagar. So he had placed the order for the decorative items there and was supposed to go and pick it up tomorrow. But apparently something came up and now he has to wait three days."

 Aryan had just resumed stuffing his rice in his mouth when Chhaya with her mouth full of food asked " Wy? Wat was wong?" to which her mother gave her an angry look.

 " Chhaya! Don't talk with food in your mouth!" Chhaya just continued chewing and kicking her legs under the table. She just asked a question for the sake of it. She didn't really understand what was going on but well as long as school was off tomorrow, it didn't really concern her.

 Vishay just smiled and patted Chhaya's head who had sat right beside him. 

 " We'll, I had actually placed an order there with some connections too , but in Somnagar. So I just said to him I could probably go and collect those on the way for him but he instead asked me to help him with his problem here. And said he'll be sending Ashmit to go collect the items."

 Neema had finished eating a while ago and started clearing away the plates and dishes from the table while Darpan helped her. " So are you sending Ashmit to collect your stuff too?" asked Neema yelling from the kitchen. 

 " No, honey. How could I? Of course I have to stay here and help Saarthak-ji. It's so rare he asks someone for help. I just told him that my son's will accompany Ashmit to Chandranagar and then Somnagar. They can take the water route and return quickly too. "

 Aryan quickly drank the last drop of water from his glass and asked in a hurry :

 " Wait! You are sending us on a trip tomorrow?" His reaction was a little odd. He seemed a little surprised yet excited to Darpan. 

 " Of course, tomorrow is not possible. You'll prepare tomorrow and leave in the night. You should reach Chandranagar by the afternoon of the day after tomorrow." He got up from the table heading for the Shed to check on the horses and cows. It was a daily thing of his. 

 " Why? Is that too soon for you? I know it's a bit sudden but I believe you three should be fine by yourself, right?" He asked turning towards Darpan. 

 " Of course, Baba! We'll prepare to leave tomorrow night. And please tell us if there's anything else that you'll be needing from there!" Darpan asked if his father would like some souvenirs from Chandranagar. 

 Chhaya who had been in the other room after dinner came rushing to him .

 " Me! I want something! " She yelled. Aryan quietly pulled her to the side. He closed his eyes and put his head on the table.

 " No! You're a bad girl . You don't get anything. Plus we're not going there to buy toys for you so don't expect something on return!" He quietly peeked through one of his eyes to see her reaction . Sure enough, he had hit the nerve again. She looked upset when Darpan tried consoling her. 

 " Chhaya , don't listen to him. What do you want? I'll buy it for you , okay? But you have to promise to be on your best behaviour till we return then. Ok?"

 " Yes Yes! I'll be good. Believe me! Please bring me a Moon lantern from there Bhaiyya! That girl Aarya had been talking about how her father had brought one for her. She says it's beautiful. I too want one. Please,please?"

She used her puppy eyes look at him . 

 Darpan smiled and lightly patted her cheeks.

 " Sure . If you want it so bad, I will get it for you. But , remember! No mischief! Hmm?" She nodded furiously and sat quietly at the table as if to prove she's being a good girl.

 Aryan got up from his chair. Facing his father, he excitedly spoke. 

 " Baba, if you can grant her that stupid lantern, can you please grant me something? "

 Vishay was quite puzzled but not surprised. Even though they had such a big age gap , the sibling rivalry between Aryan and Chhaya was quite strong. Amused, he just nodded. 

 " Oh no, you'll only be granted that if you behave! No toy for bad boys!" Chhaya confidently said earning a glare from Aryan to which she responded with a ' Blehh' with her tongue out. Sensing these two might fight again, Neema hurriedly led her to her room nagging at her all the way about how a good girl should act.

 Reverting his attention back to the situation, Aryan excitedly asked: " Baba, while we're on the trip, can we also take time to visit Varunganj?"

 " Varunganj?" Darpan asked , puzzled. " But wouldn't we have to take a complete detour from Nakshghati to go there? It's on the opposite end. "

 Aryan nodded. " Yeah, I know. That's why I am suggesting that we go there after collecting all the items and then return home. Sounds good?". He looks expectantly between Vishay and Darpan. 

 Darpan just shrugs " It's not like I decide anything. Ask Baba!" and continues with cleaning the table which he previously paused.

 " Alright, but why do you want to go there though? Do you even have any business there?" Vishay sits down on the chair. 

 Aryan nods vigorously. " Of course I do! Why would I ask you then? But just don't ask me what it is. You will know when I get back."

 Vishay just shakes his head and smiles. While Darpan who finished helping his mother in the kitchen just wipes his hands with his tunic. 

 " All right! You boys go to sleep now. Get up early tomorrow and wrap up your unfinished work here. The trip will be a long one. It might take you a few weeks. Go now and rest !" Vishay bid them a goodnight and went to check on the sheds. 

 The next day , Darpan and Aryan did finish up the remaining entries on the register and the order sequence of materials. Till evening, they returned home and packed their stuff in a cloth bag. Around 8 pm in the night, they were ready to set out. Ashmit had arranged for a horse carriage. 

 " Do eat your meals on time huh? And please try to find an inn or something and shower. If you don't and do something stupid, then I swear! Also no running around anywhere without any reason. If I hear something or the other from both of you then - Oh have you got any money on you?" 

 Neema was trying to check everything had been packed and instructing her kids to be careful on a night journey.

 " Neema, honey. They aren't kids anymore! And yes they have money on them. Don't worry too much! Our boys aren't that fragile"

 Vishay tried to hold her back from asking any further questions and stalling their time. 

 Darpan saw his mother's worried face and hugged her. 

 " Ma, we'll be okay! We aren't kids. And yes I have double checked everything, we didn't miss anything! Okay?"

 He pulled back to see her face. She seemed a bit relieved but still nervous. 

 " You tell me all that but a Mother can't help but worry. I trust you boys but aren't I supposed to care for my children? Travelling in the night is dangerous. Please take care hmm?" She replied stroking Darpan's cheek .

 " And take care of these two idiots too okay?" she gestured towards Ashmit and Aryan who let out small noises of protests at being called 'idiots'. 

 After the goodbyes and their mother's warnings and instructions, the three boys finally set out toward Chandranagar. The moon was bright that night.

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1. Ji- a suffix used in someone's name as a sign of respect.

2. Chachu- an informal version of Chacha: a term used to adress the younger brother of your Father or used as a sign of familial closeness to an older individual (male)