Chapter 13
The guest room was quiet, its curtains drawn against the morning light, wrapping the space in a muted grey. Aariv pushed the door open slowly, his body trembling as though the weight of the entire house pressed down on him.
Inside, Yug looked up immediately from where he sat on the couch. Concern shadowed his face the moment he saw Aariv’s swollen eyes and shaky breaths.
Without a word, Aariv closed the door behind him and stumbled toward Yug. His voice cracked, desperate, broken. “We will leave from here,” Yug said firmly, his hand already reaching for Aariv’s wrist as if to drag him away from this suffocating mansion.
But Aariv shook his head, his tears finally spilling over. “Nahi jaa sakte, Yug…” His voice broke mid-sentence, his throat too tight to bear the words. He pressed a trembling hand against his chest, his breaths shallow.
“Logo ke taane nahi sun sakta main. Sab kahenge ki… inhone mujhe shaadi karte hi chhod diya. Kaise jiyunga main iss tag ke saath? Chhod diya gaya pati ke ghar se…”
His sobs grew harsher, muffled by his palms. “Kaise jiyunga, Yug? Itna strong nhi hu mai.... Mai mar jaaunga yug”
Yug’s chest clenched painfully at the sight.
He pulled Aariv into his arms at once, holding him tightly, as if shielding him from invisible blows.
His chin rested on Aariv’s hair, his voice rough with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry, Aaru… I’m so sorry. Main tujhe bacha nahi paaya.
” His arms tightened, trembling as his own tears slipped free.
“Main fail ho gaya, Aaru… mujhe tujhe waha leke jaana hi nhi chahiye tha , in..infact na hum documentary karne aate na hi ye sab hota , sab meri galti , mujhe maaf kr de please.”
Aariv buried his face against Yug’s chest, shaking his head with urgency. “Teri koi galti nahi hai,” he whispered, his words hiccuping between sobs. “Vo log bohot zyada the… tu akela tha kya hi karta? Shayad destiny ko YHI manjur tha”
The guilt in Yug’s heart only grew, but Aariv’s voice was fragile yet forgiving cut through it.
Minutes passed in heavy silence, broken only by Aariv’s quiet sobs and Yug’s steady, protective embrace. Slowly, exhaustion claimed Aariv. His lashes fluttered against damp cheeks, and before long his head slipped onto Yug’s lap.
Yug carefully shifted, settling Aariv’s head on his thighs, his fingers moving instinctively to comb through those soft curls. His touch was gentle, rhythmic, like a lullaby without sound. His other hand brushed away the tear stains from Aariv’s face, as if erasing the pain etched there.
Aariv’s breaths steadied, evening out as sleep overtook him, his body curling slightly as though seeking shelter. Yug’s heart twisted seeing him like this so delicate, so bruised by fate.
He bent his head, whispering into the quiet, though Aariv was already asleep.
“Tu mera bhai hai, Aaru. Jo bhi ho… main hamesha tere saath rahunga.”
And as the house outside seethed with anger and silence, inside the guest room Yug became a shield patting Aariv’s head softly, like a big brother who knew he could not change the past, but could at least hold him through the storm of the present.
..........
Rudra, restless, found his steps leading him toward the guest room.
Something tugged at him ,an ache he couldn’t quite explain.
He wanted to check on Yug, maybe tease him as always, maybe distract himself from the storm his brother had created downstairs.
Pushing the door gently open, Rudra leaned his head inside. His lips curled in the beginnings of a smirk. “Mirchi...”
But before the word could fully leave his mouth, Yug pressed a finger to his lips, his eyes sharp. “Shhhh.”
Rudra froze, brows lifting. He followed Yug’s gaze and then he saw it.
On the couch, curled into himself, Aariv slept.
His breathing was shallow, lashes still wet against pale cheeks.
Tear tracks glistened faintly even in the dim light, like marks of a battle fought alone.
Rudra’s smirk vanished instantly. Something inside his chest clenched.
This boy, this fragile stranger who had been pulled into their house by fate looked like he had already carried lifetimes of pain.
For once, Rudra was silent.
Yug’s hand moved tenderly, brushing away a lock of hair from Aariv’s forehead before he carefully shifted, lowering Aariv’s head onto the armrest of the couch.
Every movement was delicate, protective, as though even in sleep Aariv’s fragility could shatter at a harsh touch.
“Let him sleep,” Yug whispered, glancing back at Rudra. “Let’s talk outside.”
Rudra nodded wordlessly. Together, they stepped onto the balcony.
The night air was cool, scented faintly with jasmine from the garden below.
The silence between them stretched for a few moments before Yug finally sank into one of the wooden chairs.
His shoulders slumped, exhaustion etched into his face.
Rudra sat opposite, watching him quietly, waiting.
Yug exhaled, his eyes drawn back to the glass window where Aariv lay inside. His voice was low, heavy with pain.
“Pata hai tumhe… kismat hamesha hi dard deti hai usko?”
Rudra tilted his head, not fully understanding. “Huh?”
Yug chuckled, but it wasn’t humor it was hollow, bitter.
He lifted his gaze briefly to the night sky before letting it drop again.
“Chhota tha tabhi maa-baap guzar gaye. Bechara chhoti umra mein hi bada ho gaya. Din bhar mehnat karta hai… pata nahi kitni part-time jobs karta tha bas apni fees bharne ke liye. Kabhi waiter, kabhi pamphlet baantna, kabhi tutoring… jo mila, kiya, aur mere paas itne paise nhi the ki mai help kar saku.”
Rudra felt something stirred uneasily inside him, but Yug went on, his words spilling like a confession that had been waiting too long.
“College mein kuch ladke use chhedte the. Uske chehre pe hamesha masoomiyat thi, aur vo log… uska fayda uthana chahte the. Paise ke badle… ghatiya cheeze krwane ki koshish karte the. Usko kehte the ki… humare sath so jaa, toh scholarship clear karwa denge, paise denge.” Yug’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching on the armrests.
“Har baar vo bhaagta tha. Raaton raat hostel change karta, kaam chhod deta…
just because he didn't have anyone to protect him from those Powerful people. "
Rudra’s throat felt dry. He looked through the glass again at Aariv’s sleeping form, suddenly seeing not just a delicate boy, but someone who had fought silent wars no one had noticed.
“Vo documentary jo banane aaya tha competition ke liye…” Yug’s voice faltered, softened.
“Vo bhi ek wajah thi un sab se bachne ki. Kaam ke bahaane, vo ladkon ke paas se door ho jaata tha. Par ab dekho… abhi bhi kismat ne use dhokha diya. Har baar ladta hai apni kismat se, par hai toh insaan hi. Kitna ladega akela?”
The words hit Rudra harder than he expected.
Something twisted in his chest painfully, a guilt he hadn’t known was waiting there.
How could he tell Yug that his own elder brother had stood in front of Aariv in the morning, looked into those tearful doe eyes and coldly declared he did not consider him a wife?
Rudra swallowed. His usual sarcasm was nowhere to be found.
His voice came low, sincere.
“I don’t know what to say…
but…” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady.
“From now on, he is my little brother. I will be his family. Aur mere hote hue, main use kuchh nahi hone dunga. Don’t worry. ”
Yug blinked, surprised. His lips parted, then pressed together. His eyes, usually sharp and mocking when around Rudra, softened just a fraction.
“Tum?”
Rudra nodded firmly.
“Haan. Main Rudra Rathore tumse wada karta hoon… ki main hamesha uske saath rahunga. Kuch bhi ho jaaye.”
For a moment, silence lingered between them. Then slowly, Yug’s expression eased, gratitude flickering in his eyes.
“Thanks.” He paused, then added honestly, “Waise… laga nahi tha tum itne acche insaan ho.”
Rudra let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Bas jitna tum sochte ho utna bura bhi nahi hoon. Kabhi samajh ke toh dekho.”
Yug’s lips twitched despite himself. “Phir shuru ho gaye tum.”
And just like that, the tension cracked. Rudra chuckled openly, leaning back in his chair. His laughter carried easily into the morning air, warm and genuine.
Yug stared at him for a beat, then his own lips curved into a small smile. Against everything the pain, the exhaustion, the anger he found himself smiling too.
The sound was soft, almost disbelieving, but real.
For the first time since the chaos began, Yug smiled after everything.
And behind the glass, though he could not hear them, Aariv shifted in his sleep.
His brows smoothed just. slightly, as if the warmth of that fragile new bond outside reached him even in his dreams.
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I will update soon, tab tak ke liye enjoy and take care. aur haa comment karna mt bhulna. At least tell me how the chapter was .
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