The Calm Before the Storm

It had been weeks since the younger siblings had made their deal with Arnav and Anirudh. The house was relatively peaceful, with only the occasional sarcastic remark flying between the siblings. It seemed like everyone was doing their best to keep the status quo intact.

But deep down, Arnav knew that peace was just a temporary illusion. The younger ones might be behaving for now, but the moment they slipped, they would face the full force of his wrath.

Arnav was always watching, his cold, calculating eyes never missing a beat. The silence in the house had made him more vigilant than ever. And today, it was his turn to make sure that the fragile peace would remain intact.

The Breaking Point

It all started when Ayush forgot to bring his assignments home from college, a recurring problem he had been warned about numerous times. Arnav had heard about it from his classmates and knew that this time, it wasn’t just a slip-up. It was carelessness.

Ayush, sitting at the dinner table, tried to act casual, avoiding Arnav’s piercing gaze.

"Do you have the assignments, Ayush?" Arnav’s voice was icy, controlled—a stark contrast to his usually composed demeanor.

Ayush hesitated, a nervous sweat forming on his forehead. "Uh, I left them at college. I’ll bring them tomorrow."

Arnav’s eyes narrowed. "You’ve been warned repeatedly, Ayush. This isn’t a simple mistake. This is carelessness, and I’ve had enough."

Ayush shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at Aryan and Avni for some kind of support, but they both avoided eye contact. They knew better than to intervene when Arnav was angry.

The Calm Before the Storm

Arnav stood up, towering over the table. The room felt heavy with the tension. "Ayush, you know how important your education is. You know the rules of this house. This lack of discipline won’t be tolerated any longer."

Ayush opened his mouth to respond, but Arnav held up a hand. "No excuses, Ayush. I’m not interested in your excuses. This is the third time you’ve pulled this stunt, and I’m done. You’ve crossed the line."

Anirudh, sitting in the corner of the room, watched with stoic silence, his arms crossed. He knew Arnav’s punishments were effective, but this was a different level.

Ayush started to panic. "Arnav, please! It was just a mistake! I swear, I’ll do better next time."

Arnav’s voice turned steely, as cold as the winter air. "There is no next time. You've had plenty of chances, and you continue to make the same mistakes. You’ve become complacent, and that stops today."

The Punishment: The Iron Fist

Without another word, Arnav grabbed Ayush’s arm, his grip firm and unyielding. "Come with me. Now."

Ayush’s eyes widened in fear, but he didn’t dare resist. He followed Arnav up the stairs, his heart pounding.

Aryan and Avni exchanged looks, both too scared to make a move. The atmosphere was charged, thick with anticipation.

Upstairs, in the training room—where Arnav often conducted his strict lessons—he turned to face Ayush. The room was eerily quiet, save for the sound of Ayush’s breathing.

"Take your shoes off," Arnav ordered, his tone colder than ice.

Ayush didn’t hesitate. He quickly removed his shoes, feeling a dread gnawing at his stomach.

Arnav walked over to the far corner, where weights and exercise equipment lined the walls. He picked up a set of dumbbells and walked back toward Ayush.

"Today, you’re going to learn what happens when you fail to meet expectations," Arnav said, his voice low and controlled. "You’re going to face consequences, Ayush. Real consequences."

Ayush looked at him, panic rising in his chest. "Arnav, please. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again."

Arnav’s eyes hardened. "Sorry doesn’t work anymore. Discipline is what you need, not apologies."

He handed Ayush the dumbbells. "I want you to do push-ups—a hundred of them. Then we’ll see if you’ve learned your lesson."

The Test of Will

Ayush stared at the weights, his body shaking. "A hundred push-ups? You’ve got to be kidding me."

Arnav’s expression didn’t change. "You’ve got exactly three minutes to complete them. If you fail, I’ll double the punishment."

Ayush’s mind raced. He’d never had to do such a rigorous punishment before, and the pressure of Arnav’s strictness pushed him to his limits.

He dropped to the floor, trying to maintain his composure, but the first few push-ups felt like an eternity. His arms burned, his breath coming in short gasps.

Arnav stood over him, his gaze unwavering. "Faster. Push yourself harder. Discipline is the key to success. This is what happens when you take your responsibilities lightly."

Ayush struggled to keep going, his body screaming for rest, but he knew better than to stop. With each push-up, he could feel Arnav’s cold eyes burning into him. The pressure was immense.

Finally, after two grueling minutes, Ayush collapsed, unable to complete the full set.

Arnav looked down at him, his face unreadable. "You failed. Do it again."

A Lesson Learned

Ayush couldn’t believe it. He pushed himself back up, determined to finish what he started. This time, he completed the full hundred push-ups, his body trembling with exhaustion.

When he finished, he slumped on the floor, barely able to keep his eyes open. Arnav stared down at him for a moment before speaking.

"That’s the price of carelessness, Ayush. I hope you remember this."

Ayush nodded weakly, too tired to speak.

Arnav walked away, leaving Ayush alone to catch his breath. Discipline had been instilled, but at a price.

The Calm After the Storm

As Ayush limped back downstairs, he was met with the silent stares of his siblings. The punishment was over, but the lesson would linger. Arnav’s strictness had broken his spirit, but it had also hardened his resolve.

Ayush knew that from now on, he would have to be more careful. Arnav’s iron fist was always watching, and the price of failure was more than he was willing to pay.

The balance had shifted. The younger siblings had learned that there was no escaping the discipline of their elder brother. And for now, that was all that mattered.

To Be Continued…