If you will become afraid of the paths.
How will you come out of your home? (Ali Sethi)
It was the day of the birthday gala. Zander could feel his heart in his throat. Though his initial decision was to opt out of the function just like every other one yet he couldnt. There was something in Emils eyes when he asked him to come. Some kind of expectation laden with hope and Zander knew how it felt when someone brutally annihilates them.
I will be waiting for my brother.
His words jammed in his mind, this was the thing about Emil. He knew his weak spots and when to hit on them, he knew that under that resentful behavior of Zander was a person who clearly saw his sincerity and love towards him and his family. It was just his ego and the overbearing past that wasnt letting him accept that wholeheartedly.
Zander whispered a small prayer to God and hoped everything would turn out fine while endlessly chanting in his heart that it was for Emil only, nothing else mattered.
After showering and putting on the tux that he brought from a thrift shop on rent, he decided to gel his hair but then shrug the thought off. Nothing was going to make him look handsome in the eyes of those elite-class people.
It took him about 10 minutes to get ready but then after slipping into
his shoes and his cap, he took a deep breath and went to knock on Tobias door
with the hope that he would help him with the bow set.
"Holy shit!" Tobias muttered when he opened the door and saw him.
Zander had never worn something of that nature out before. He didnt even imagine he would. The black attire did look good on him despite his rough appearance. His heterochromatic eyes gleamed like crystals if you looked closely, and his dark brown hair was hidden under the cap. His pigmented scars, still a bit visible on his face and neck.
"Dont exaggerate, just help me with the tux," Zander said softly as Tobias turned and fixed his bowtie.
"Why dont you take off the cap, it doesnt go with the tux," Tobias suggested.
"Perhaps, I dont want to scare the children and people there." He responded with a small chuckle earning a glare from him.
"You and your self-degradation Zander." Tobias frustratedly said, now taking a step back.
"Well wish me luck then because this self-degradation is much better than the one I am going to face at that party."
"Dude, just ignore those disgusting pigs and enjoy tonight. Those people are just self-obsessed."
"Self-obsessed, rich, and beautiful." Zander retorted ambling towards the door.
"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder bro," came his dramatic reply with a grin.
"I wish the world saw it that way, Tobias. See you later. Zander muttered under his breath and walked out of the apartment leaving Tobias with a sigh.
Reaching the flower shop, he bought a small bouquet and then began to stroll through the market, trying to find a gift. It was already months end and he had an extremely low budget from his savings. Finally, after an hour he found a small brooch engraved with a wolf sign very similar to the ring he had always seen him wearing.
If anyone had seen him buying a gift for Emil Svein, the person he claimed to hate and desperately wanted to hate, they would wash their eyes with acid
A small sad smile made its way to Zanders lips as he made his way to the venue. The truth was he had always wanted to hug him back and claim his brotherly love. Emil was the brother he never had, someone to always be there for him when his father died when his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Even offering him money now and then.
It was just the past and Emils love for his so-called egotistical grandpa that made Zander to keep him far from his life.
How could he love that family who was the sole reason for his fathers anguish?
Coming from Twelve years old, Zander had the experience, the hold of an elder brother. Six years older than him, who would come to visit him in the school despite his constant effort to stay away from him.
A boy who would smile his way. Treat him as a normal human being
should be treated and even if he was not normal, Zander had dreamed to be one just so she would see him as such.
He would smile and tell him that he was beautiful and maybe compliment him on his favorite red shirt and black cap which would make him look decent despite the scars.
He could remember the first time Emil hugged him. He was such a friendly boy that he didnt mind hugging a poor boy who everyone deemed as a monster. His body would mold into his when he hugged him in greeting. Thats what made Emil Svein special to him, he didnt care about the world for him.
And there was her…
At this, his thoughts jarred back to reality as if saving him from an outpouring of sadness.
Different thoughts of how the night might end fleeted through his
mind and he pressed his fingers against his eyes as different
personalities came into his head.
He shook his head to clear those thoughts out, he didnt want
to think about any of them.
What he wanted and needed to do was focus on how to get through that night, that birthday dinner without getting hurt, and that was exactly what he ended up focusing on.
,..................
Zander discovered it the hard way that big parties werent for him. He felt so out of his element immediately as he walked into the hall
where the party was held.
First of all, he couldnt understand why his 26th birthday was so
grand. But then again you cant expect anything less from Sveins, especially Aria.
Emil had called it his birthday/business get-together. So you could imagine the caliber of people there. His grip on the flower bouquet tightened.
"Its not as serious as it seems. Just calm down, smile and say hello. Its for Emil, remember." Zander inwardly patted himself.
He smiled politely as the gaze of people began to settle on him. He felt nervous but then composed himself, saying to himself it wasnt something new.
Some people glared or sneered at him,some just checked him out with a disgusted look while others didnt exhibit much interest.
His eyes scanned the place filled with snotty rich people and he
immediately saw Emil, a small smile broke across his face.
He was standing apart from the rest with what looked like a glass of Scotch in his hand, exuding charm and class in his three piece dark red armani suit.
Before he could veer off to say hello to him, he heard his Aunt Erikas voice as she approached him with his husband Sandrik Arne.
"Son, I am so happy you could make it." She said as she hugged him. Her hug was warm and it made him miss his mother.
She was one of the tolerable Sveins, probably because she was married into another family. That was a bogus reason but kept Zander satisfied about the love she showed for him.
She looked happy, all smiles and diamonds. Apparently she loved diamonds.
"Thank you Mrs Arnes, nice seeing you after a long time." Zander replied in a polite manner, yet his tone was uninterested which didnt go unnoticed by Erika and it was enough to shrink her smile a bit.
Mr Arnes greeted him too but with a rigid face which was enough for Zander to excuse himself and went towards Emil who smiled as big as a Cheshire cat seeing him.
"Happy Birthday!" Zander greeted him politely with a small yet genuine smile.
"Well, it is a happy birthday now that you have graced me with your presence." Emil said, engulfing him in a tight hug.
"Its a small present for you," Zander muttered, leaning forward a small box and bouquet which he took with an appreciative smile and asked one of his men to place it in his room.
"It might be small to you but for me it means alot and by the way you look cute brother."
"Why, thank you kind Sir. You dont look so bad yourself." Zander replied with a smile.
When the waiter passed with a tray, Emil took a glass of juice and handed it to Zander who looked around while nursing it. His gaze trying to locate that one face, the one face that was both the cure and pain of his heart.
"Do you want to meet Pa? He is on the patio side with his friends." Emils deep questioning voice rang while he kept his gaze on the swirling liquid in his glass.
"Why arent you mingling with other people? Surely, they must be dying to have a chat with you. " Clenching his jaw, Zander swiftly changed the topic.
Emil sighed and looked his way.
"Just like I am dying to spend time with my brother, "
"I am your cousin Emil, not brother and I believe you have too many people around to spend time with." Zander snorted, watching his Aunt Erika ever the social bird, welcoming and greeting everyone like it was a norm for her.
Emil unfurled his mouth to say something only to get interrupted by someone.
"Emil!" A soft, beautiful voice rang near them, causing him to look in the direction of that voice.
And there she was, standing in her glory and beauty……Aria Arnes.
The female sensation and top fashion designer of the country, the epitome of class, beauty and arrogance.
Her long strawberry blonde hair was curled and styled in a side braid, her grayish blue eyes sparkled with a glee. With tentative and slow steps she began to amble towards them still unaware of Zanders presence. Her knee-length body hugging silk embroidered gown accentuating her curves. An aura of aloofness surrounded her.
With every step she took, Zander could feel his heart thumping wildly against his ribcage as if eager to greet her after so many years. He had seen her on television giving interviews and on front of Magazine covers yet seeing her standing opposite to him in person was another overwhelming emotion.
"Emil Baby, I was looking for you all over the place and here you are." She frowned and placed a deep peck on his lips, marking her territory.
A huge diamond shining on her ring finger, harshly reminding Zander that the love of his life would never be his. She was never his to begin with.
How could the great Aria Arnes be with a man like him?
Feeling the dampness in his eyes, he averted his gaze to the side.
"I was going to call you Aria. Look who is here?" Emil leaned back and pointed towards Zander with a smile.
Aria also turned to look in his direction and thats when the smile on her angelic pale face shrewd, her grayish blue eyes turned into disgust and then into anger.
"What is he doing here?" She seethed, glaring at him.
"I invited him, Aria, he is family."Emil looked taken aback by the sudden change in her behavior.
"Family, him? Oh, please Emil. Just look at his attire. Even our servants wear better clothes than him. I didnt organize such a grand party for lowlives like him, " Each of her words felt like a dagger to Zander, piercing him again and again.
Tears of humiliation burned his eyes.
"Enough Aria! How could you say such words? He is our cousin and a part of this family." Emil bellowed, keeping the decibels minimal. His eyes held disbelief for his fiancee.
"Stop saying Family again and again. Do you want people to laugh at us learning about his reality? " She retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. Face ladened with arrogance and disgust for the person who was continuously shivering invisibly under her insulting gaze.
"What is his reality Aria? " Emil asked, this time anger contorted on his face.
Aria took a step towards Zander and started laughing as if making fun of his condition.
"You know Mr Zander what your reality is, that you are the son of a man who was abandoned by his family, the son of a prostitute. A scarred and ugly man, a lowlife. " She accentuated each and every word with a hint of mockery.
Zander clenched his fists and lips to prevent a sound from leaving his mouth as tears burned the back of his eyes. He unconsciously blocked out their voices as he chanted "be strong Zander" in his head.
Ten years of wait and longing to see his love and this was what he got, utter humiliation and pain.
He knew people were mean but no one had ever said such mean things to him since high school, and what he heard in high school hadnt been as hurtful as everything he just heard from the one who ruled his heart.
Emil seeing his condition, grabbed Aria from the side and asked her to get away at the moment.
Zander finally reigned in his emotions and wiped his tears away.
"Dont be angry with him Emil, she is right. A lowlife like me doesnt deserve to be here, " he whispered in a broken tone and flashed a wavering smile before treading out from there, ignoring the pitiful looks of people and pleading voices of Emil.
His mind and throat clogged with her disgraceful words.