Rise and Regret

5:00 AM.

Avni, Ayush, and Aryan were rudely awakened by the sound of a loud whistle.

Avni groaned, burying her face in the pillow. "No. Absolutely not."

Another whistle—even louder.

"Get up," Anirudh’s sharp voice rang through the room.

Ayush muttered, "I think I hate him."

Aryan pulled his blanket over his head. "Maybe if we pretend to be dead, he’ll leave us alone."

The blanket was yanked away.

Arnav stood over them, expressionless.

"You have five minutes. Or I double your punishment."

Avni shot up instantly.

"No need! We’re up!"

Ayush groaned. "Ugh. This is worse than death."

The Punishment: Phase One

The three were dragged outside to the garden, where Anirudh stood with a stopwatch.

Arnav was beside him, arms crossed.

"Ten laps around the house," Arnav ordered. "Start running."

Avni blinked. "You’re kidding, right?"

Anirudh smirked. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Aryan muttered, "You never do."

Ayush sighed. "Fine, let’s just get it over with."

They started running.

By the third lap, Aryan was wheezing. "I—can't—feel—my legs."

By the sixth lap, Avni was sweating buckets. "This is actually—torture."

By the ninth lap, Ayush collapsed onto the grass. "Just leave me here. Tell the world my story."

Arnav kicked his leg. "Get up."

Ayush groaned. "I hate you."

Arnav smirked. "Good. Now, push-ups."

The Punishment: Phase Two

"Fifty push-ups," Anirudh ordered.

Avni gasped. "What?! After all that running?"

Anirudh’s eyes narrowed. "Want to make it seventy?"

She shut up immediately.

Ayush, Aryan, and Avni dropped down and started.

By the twentieth push-up, Aryan's arms were shaking.

By the thirty-fifth, Ayush looked like he was about to pass out.

By the fiftieth, Avni was drenched in sweat.

She collapsed onto the grass, gasping for breath. "Never… sneaking… out… again."

Arnav crouched down beside her. "Good. Maybe you’ll finally start using your brain."

She glared at him. "This is child abuse."

Anirudh smirked. "No. This is called discipline."

The Punishment: Phase Three

"Now," Arnav said, standing up, "time for the final phase."

Avni groaned. "Final?! There’s more?!"

Arnav nodded. "You’re cleaning the house today. Every single room. No breaks."

Ayush and Aryan gasped in horror.

Aryan shook his head. "I take it back. The running was fine. The push-ups were fine. But this?! This is cruelty!"

Anirudh smirked. "Better get started, then."

Avni screamed into her hands.

She had never hated her brothers more than she did today.

To Be Continued…