Rishton Ki Dor

6. Distress

Alisha was waiting for them at home. And as Ayaan had expected, she was absolutely furious.

This was, in a way, the last straw for Alisha. Bunking classes, getting average marks in exams-and now this. It was like Ayaan was actively trying to ruin his future.

"Kya zaroorat thi us ladke se ladne ki, Ayaan?" she fumed at her son. "Tum kya chahte ho, college khatam hone se pehle apna aur mera naam puri tarah se mitti mai Milana chahte ho kya?"

Ayaan flinched. His mom was laying into him even worse than he'd thought.

"Uski galti nahi thi, Mom," Mihir intervened. He had tried to stay out of Alisha's way as much as he could, but he couldn't just stand by and let her yell at Ayaan when he knew Ayaan's fault was minimal in all this. "Ladai us ladke ne shuru ki thi-"

"To ye khatam kar deta na!" Alisha yelled. "Kya zaroorat thi fight ko aage badhane ki?"

Ayaan couldn't stop himself from asking, "to mai kya karta, Mom? Khud ko defend bhi na karta?"

Alisha glared at him. "Don't you dare talk back to me, Ayaan."

Ayaan shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not talking back to you. I'm just asking, aapke hisaab se mujhe kya karna chahiye tha? Bas khade hoke maar khani chahiye thi kya?"

Alisha took a step towards him in anger. "Tum-"

Mihir stepped in between them. "Ayaan, go to your room," he told his brother.

Alisha scowled at Mihir. "Wo kahi nahi jaega. Hato saamne se, Mihir. I'm talking to my son."

But Mihir did not move. "Aap abhi bohot gusse mai Hai, Mom," he told Alisha calmly. "Pehle shaant ho jaiye."

Alisha, furious-"Don't tell me-"

"Mom, please," Mihir said firmly, and this time, there was a warning in his tone that shocked Alisha into silence.

"Upar jaa, Ayaan, abhi," Mihir repeated. Ayaan didn't need to be told again. He quickly left the two of them.

Alisha stared at her stepson. "What the hell, Mihir? Meri baat khatam nahi hui thi."

Mihir-"I'm sorry, Mom, but aap abhi bohot gusse mai Hai. Aap bewajah Ayaan to daat rahi thi."

"Bewajah? Wo college mai jhagda karke aaya hai-"

Mihir-"Jhadga Ayaan ne nahi kiya tha, Mom. I told you the whole story. Galti us ladke Sagar ki thi."

Alisha-"But isne provoke to kiya tha na use? And this isn't the first time he's getting in trouble at college. Stop trying to defend him."

Mihir-"I understand Mom, Ayaan ko padhai ko leke bohot issues hai. Lekin aaj jo hua, uske liye use itna daantna sahi nahi hai."

Alisha shook her head, frustrated. "Tum hi use bigaad rahe ho, Mihir. Haar cheez ke liye use badhawa dena band karo. Aur tumhe bhi kya zaroorat thi Mr. Mehta se itna bhid ne ki college mai? You know very well hamari Mehta Enterprises ke saath kitni badi deal hone Wali hai. Why did you have to get involved in a children's fight? Agar iska affect hamari deal pe hua to?"

Mihir was unmoved. "Affect hua to hone dijiye, Mom. I don't care. In fact, mai khud unke saath ab deal nahi karna chahta. Us ladke ke Ayaan pe haath uthaya, phir jhooth bolke Ayaan ko phasa ne ki koshish ki. Aur uske baap ne Ayaan par ungli uthane ki jurrat ki." Mihir's eyes blazed with fury. "They're lucky that boy only got a suspension. Ayaan ke saath koi kuch galat kare, mai yeh kabhi bardaasht nahi karoonga." He looked at Alisha. "Aap bhi, please, don't get mad at Ayaan. Aaj jo hua uske liye usse kuch mat kahiye." With that, he turned around and left.