•|this idiotic child|•

Agastya

I have a schedule in my life and no one and I emphasize that no one is allowed to disrupt it in any manner. And if something like that happens then I will be their worst fear. Ask Rudra, he will have plenty of experiences to share. But it is not only about control, it is also a way of reining in everything inside you, you let it take control and give it a backseat to your heart and mind. This was my way of rejuvenating and no one should question it.

But all of this was put to a full stop when I heard the blood curdling screams that woke me up from my slumber. I am not a light sleeper and not someone who sleeps like a log but everyone will be awakened by those screams. It wasn't filled with pain as much as it was filled with a haunting quality. The cries that followed were equally alarming.

I woke up in the morning and found it hard to even go back to bed after that.

Why?

Was it pity? Or was it just curiosity?

I don't know.

I had gotten up, determined to check on that kid, after all that was what he was, a kid. But he had put a dent on my plans when he exited the room and the painfully awkward conversation of why we both were out of the bed in an ungodly hour arose.

As predicted I didn't get any sleep later that morning. Nor did I get any peace and whenever I closed my eyes to concentrate on something those ear piercing screams took over and tapered off to a wounded cry of resignation.

This was beyond torture, to sleep when someone howled in pain and yelled and sobbed for it stop, please stop hurting him. To sleep when pleas and begs to rescue him reached down my ears and stayed there for the rest of eternity.

Nightmares weren't a new thing to me. I've had my share of it and I've heard people having it yet this was something new and not in the happy kind of new. I wasn't that twisted to be even slightly happy when haunted cries filled my ears especially when he had done me no physical harm. I hate him and dislike his actions but this, I won't even wish it on my worst enemy.

Even at breakfast it was awkward as hell to sit there like an oblivious idiot when Rudra openly discussed the matters that happened yesterday night. Siya might've gotten a whiff but Rudra was as thick as a bull to understand the nuances and subtleties of their household.

I was shocked out of my reverie when my phone rang, slightly scaring me.

It was an unknown number but as a business man I got many calls from various unknown sources.

“Hello.”

“Letting your new husband roam in places he shouldn't, is an evidence of recklessness and carelessness. You as his husband should know about his whereabouts. Isn't that right Mr. Chauhan?” An unknown voice takes from the other side.

“But I suppose I can forgive you for a bit of carelessness after all you're a crown prince and you've other matters to take care of. So for now I have him here. He is being well fed and watered and I shine him the occasional sunlight. If you want you can take a look.”

The call was abruptly cut after and a message notification popped up. From the same number but with a photo attached to it.

The place seemed really dark with a dim bulb hanging around somewhere enough to give light to roam around without tripping but what caught my attention was the person who sat on the chair wearing the same dark blue t shirt he had seen this morning, the small golden chain glinting in the harsh light and his head lolling back.

It was strange to see him like that. He wasn't a happy go lucky guy by any means, he was silent, almost like a ghost who wandered around yet he had life in him, in an almost silent way, an indescribable way but now, this was the first time ever I saw him like a dead soul. His right eyes seemed punched shut and left eye barely opening, hands loosely clutched at the chair, hair askew.

Like I imagined or even tried to imagine, rage didn't course through me. It astonishes me, later when the ruckus is all over and he is settled in a hospital bed that will dwarf him, on how calm I was when dealing with a threat like this.

Maybe it was years of practice I had gained over working under my dad or maybe this was in me like many other things that I don't seem to realize.

But I knew at that moment nobody would be free to walk away after hurting someone close to me. Hatred and animosity all forgotten.

“Vikram!”

I could see him running to get here in a hurry and in any other situation I would've teased him but now the only thing in mind is the stupid brown eyes that has always caused me troubles lolling back like a fucking dog’s.

“I don't care what you gotta do, but get me the location and get me it now.” I threw my phone across the table and he caught it effortlessly, already accepting of whatever madness I thorwad at him.

He doesn't don't waste any single second in tracing it. “I will be in my home and you'll call me the second you get any trace alright.”

I walked away not waiting for an answer. The driver seemed to understand my hurry drove like his life depended on it.

After all this ends I will have some debts to pay.

Nobody is at the foyer when I reach but I sprint towards Siya’s room in hopes of finding a minute clue as to where my stupid husband went off but the room is as empty as his head.

My next target is Yuvaan who probably won't even know if a person is missing from this household but I don't have the time to pay attention to those small details or nuances now.

Yuvaan, fortunately, is in his room with headphones over his head, the blaring music audible to even me. “Yuvaan!” I shake him awake into the real world.

He was startled and the phone fell out of his hands. “Kya hai?” [What is it?] His irritating expression only fuels the fire inside me and it is only at that point I feel a semblance of rage overcoming me. He is buffoon, always living in the world of the unknown, never really coming down to earth and understanding the real world and I blame it on her.

“Have you seen Kedar?” Something complicated flashes in his face before he schooles back into normalcy. He is a good actor. I could give him that but I was doing this before he even learned to crawl so he could keep all those tricks and tips up his sleeve.

“No I haven't, why should I see him? He is your husband not mine.” All the words tumbling out of his mouth is either utter bullshit or something prompted by Kedar but even he isn't that thick headed enough to think that I'll believe whatever he says. And if that's what he thought then he is the most idiotic person I've ever met. After Kedar, obviously.

“This is not the time to play around Yuvaan, if you know anything about where he went tell me now. Or you'll live to regret it.” There, there was the same complicated expression.

“I…I don't know. Maybe ask his sister, she'll probably know.”

I took out my office phone hand poised to ring her number but Vikram’s name flashes across it before I can connect.

“Hello?”

“It is untraceable sir. We're doing everything we can but this may take time and–”

I don't want to hear any further. Each and every second is worthy and waiting is pointless and that will only deepen the quicksand we are in.

Samaira only picks up the call at the second ring. I could picture her sitting in her room rolling eyes as she greeted me through the phone.

“Yes, Samaira speaking.” An almost mocking overtook her tone and I can do nothing about the burst of anger in me.

“Do you know where Kedar is?”

“Even if I knew it I wouldn't tell you.” Haughtiness always served as a harbinger for doom and she will soon learn that lesson when I drop the bomb on her head.

“Well then keep it to yourself and wait for your brother to bleed to his death. Good fucking bye.” I hit the send button on the photo for her. Let her enjoy the consequences of her actions and words, it's the least I can do.

Yuvaan stares at me warily, it makes my skin prickle. Why is he looking at me like that? It reminds me of her and her stupid attempts at understanding me and my needs. She could never and if that's the way Yuvaan goes then he too will never understand the situation.

“What do you mean he is bleeding to death?” Aha, always bloody suspicious. But never for the right reasons.

“Exactly what it means thick headed pig, he is in nobody knows where slowly bleeding to his death while we chit chat here with tea.”

The eyes don't widen if anything, it only narrows more in suspicion. “What is it to you, if he is bleeding to death?”

I rub my head, how unfortunate I was to get this moronic of brothers. I really should've pulled his towel away and let him freefall from the bed when he was a baby, that could've at least avoided this stupidity.

“Yuvaan listen and listen fucking well alright, there are certain things that you don't want to know and this is one of those things so shut up and help me find your stupid brother in law or just leave.”

He still looks at me through narrowed eyes but his shoulders relax a fraction and he inches slightly to me. “He didn't say anything beyond telling me to lie to you when you come asking about him.”

I knew it! I knew that stupid fuck will do something like this!

I fall onto his bed, head falling into my hands. I've never been more frustrated at him than now and he is in a half dead state.

My phone rings Samaira’s name flashing on it like an ambulance light but I ignore it in favor of scouting out the places he could go in my mind. That shit piece of electronics vibrates and vibrates occasionally breaking my concentration and sometimes I can hear Yuvaan calling someone up and then cutting the call. It better be someone who can help here.

I've never been in a situation where everything is so out of your reach yet easily catchable. It makes everything in me short-circuit, every damn nerve ending split between worry and cursing at his stupidity while also trying to work out where he could be.

The next time my phone vibrates I hurl it across the room. Yuvaan watches it fly with his mouth open and eyes wide. If Rudra was here then he would probably laugh his ass off but I can't bring myself to even think about anything humorous when my own ass is on fire.

The enormous silence laying on us is only lifted when his phone rings. It's funny how he tries to shield it from my view as he quietly answers it.

He turns around, the wide eyed and open mouthed expression still not wiped away from his face and extends his phone to me.

“Whatever it is, you better tell it fast.” I growl onto it, knowing it is quite meaningless, but still doing it.

“Sir, please listen to her and don't throw the phone across the room unless you've heard what she has to say.” Vikram's voice is laden with pleading, sounds from the other side.

And when the conversation is over my face mirrors what I mocked Yuvaan for mere minutes ago.

quietly tiptoes out of the room.