51 Grounded

" I am not. " Advay lied flatly, looking everywhere except at Arnav.

" You always avoid eye contact when you lie. It's your childhood habit. " Arnav answered quietly, gazing at him.

Damn! Did he really had to know him that well? However, he kept his silence, choosing not to answer him.

" What about the five lakh dollars? " Arnav asked the next question. He wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily. The Vipers were responsible for destroying several lives and families. If it were a choice for him, he would keep him far away from all this.

" I.. that was for the coaching classes. " Another lie.

" If that's all.. " Advay started rising out of the cushioned chair, wanting to avoid this line of questioning.

" Sit down! " Arnav replied sharply.

" If you don't tell me the truth now, I would have no choice but to tell Mr. Raizada about this. "

Advay sneered. " At least that way you and Dad will talk. "

Arnav stared at him. Something was off about him. He was behaving differently. These few days he had been so busy, he hadn't had a chance to talk to him. But now he was acting out?

" What's wrong? "

" Nothing. "

" Fine. Unless you decide to tell me the truth, you are grounded for a whole month. No hanging out with your friends, no partying and coming straight to home from college. Do you understand? "

To his surprise, Advay didn't object. He simply nodded his head and stomped out of the office. Arnav couldn't understand his behavior. If he had been grounded a year ago or even six months ago, he would have argued, bunked college and sulked the entire day at house. That is until, Mr. Raizada or Arnav allowed him his freedom. But now, he truly had changed.

Maybe he was to be blamed, Arnav thought to himself. It was only his brother and Granny that he really cared about in this whole world. Maybe it was his neglection over the past few days that he had not noticed anything unusual about Advay. Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hairs, making it all the more ruffled.

It was almost midnight when Charles parked the black Maybach in front of Thornfield Mansion. Getting out of the car, he was greeted by the head butler. Taking his bag, the butler followed him into the house.

" Your dinner is already served in your room, Master. " Arnav nodded, loosening his tie a little.

" Where's Advay? " he asked him, looking upstairs.

" Young Master's asleep. He had dinner at 8 only."

That was odd. Advay never had dinner before 10 and he usually liked to sleep a little late because of his studies. Arnav didn't think too much about it.

Going upstairs to his room, he showered and changed into night clothes. After finishing his dinner, he laid down on his bed and thought about Sofya. It had been only two days since he had last seen her, yet he was starting to miss her - miss her presence and her smile.

The day had been a tiring one and he quickly fell asleep. However, he was rudely awakened by his phone ringing at 4 am.

Groggily, he reached for his phone on the bed side table. Without taking note of who was calling, he answered.

" Arnav Singh Raizada! We talk again. " A raspy voice came from the other end, making the hairs on his body stand up.