Chapter: When Silence Screams

Barely half an hour had passed since Abhimanyu left the room. The silence should've been peaceful but it wasn't.
Arnav lay on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, replaying every word, every moment from the chaos earlier. Sleep refused to come. His chest felt heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on him.

And then... a sound.
Soft. Broken.
Barely a whisper, but enough to tear through the stillness.

He turned his head.

Avyuktha.

Her whole body trembled, violently, unnaturally, beads of sweat running down her temples, tracing her jaw, soaking her collar. Tears slipped soundlessly from the corners of her eyes, her lips parting in tiny gasps, but no sound escaped. It was like watching someone drown, silently.

Arnav froze for a second, the horror seizing his chest. Then instinct took over.

"Avu... Avu baccha?" he whispered, sitting up, shaking her shoulder gently.
No response. The trembling only worsened.

Panic flooded his veins."Avu! Avu uth! Baccha, uthh!" His voice cracked as he cupped her face, brushing away the sweat, his hands shaking now.

She didn't move, just whimpered, a broken breath slipping out, her fingers clutching the bedsheet like she was trying to hold on to something that wasn't there.

Arnav's heart raced. He pulled her into his lap, his arms wrapping around her trembling frame. "Avuu Avu baccha kya hua......Avu" His voice trembled, pleading.

Hearing the urgency, Abhimanyu rushed in, followed closely by Aarush, who rubbed his sleepy eyes, only to freeze when he saw Avyuktha. Her face had gone pale, her skin glistening with sweat.

"Mannu..." Arnav's voice broke, eyes red, "Dekh isse kya hua....Mannu dekh meri bacchi ko kya ho raha hai" he shouted trembling.

Abhimanyu's own heartbeat stumbled. He grabbed his phone and called Pari instantly. "Pari... Avu ko pata nahi kya ho raha... woh... she's trembling, sweating, her face....bas aap jaldi aa jaiye!" His voice was trembling too, barely holding it together.

Pari's voice came through, calm yet laced with worry. "Abhi... video call karo. Mujhe dikhayo usse."

He did.

Pari's face appeared on the screen, her eyes widened, then softened. "Abhi... she's having a nightmare," she said firmly, "Bhai, hug kariye usse... uthao gently..... Main aa rahi hoon."

Arnav immediately held her tighter, his arms enclosing her trembling form. "Avu... aakhein khol baccha...Avu uth na" he whispered shakily.

Aarush crawled closer, his little hands trembling as he touched her arm.
"Jiji... uth jao na..." His voice broke mid-sentence. "Jiji please... kya hua hai jiji..." His eyes filled with tears as he shook her hand helplessly.

Abhimanyu wrapped an arm around Aarush, pulling him close while his other hand rubbed Avyuktha's back. "Shhh... kuch nahi hoga... Pari aa rahi hai..."

After what felt like eternity, finally a faint sound escaped her lips. A shallow gasp.
Her lashes fluttered weakly, and her eyes opened, dazed, unfocused, as if she didn't recognize where she was.

"Avu..." Arnav whispered, relief flooding his voice as his hand found her cheek. "Baccha..."

Her body sagged, utterly exhausted. She leaned back against Arnav's chest, still trembling slightly, breaths uneven.

Abhimanyu quickly poured water into a glass and handed it to Arnav. He held it to her lips carefully, helping her drink small sips, his hand still on her back, as if afraid she'd disappear if he let go.

When the glass was empty, Arnav set it aside and just held her close, her head resting against his shoulder, his hand brushing her damp hair away from her face.

After a few minutes she came back to her senses.

Her lashes fluttered open, eyes glassy with confusion and the first thing she felt was warmth. Strong arms holding her close, the rhythm of a heartbeat beneath her ear. For a fleeting second, her trembling eased.

Then realization struck.

She stiffened and before Arnav could say a word, she slowly shifted out of his hold, pulling herself upright, her breath still uneven. Arnav's hands froze midair, fingers curling back helplessly. He didn't protest. Just watched.

The space between them filled with silence again heavy, unspoken.

Aarush immediately threw himself into her lap, sobbing into her neck. "Jiji... kya hua tha? Aap thik ho na?" His tiny hands fisted the fabric of her shirt, clinging like she might vanish again.

Avyuktha blinked back her own tears, her hand moving instinctively to his back. She began tracing soft circles, her voice trembling but steady enough to comfort him. "Mai thik hoon, Aaru..." she whispered, even though she herself wasn't sure if she was okay.

Aarush whimpered once more and then just went limp against her, his cheek pressed to her shoulder. She held him tighter, chin resting lightly on his head, her fingers still drawing those endless soothing circles, as if trying to calm both of them at once.

Arnav sat down in front of her, searching her face quietly, confusion and worry etched in his eyes. And then his voice broke the silence, gentle, cautious.

"Avu... kya hua tha baccha?" he asked softly. "Bura sapna tha?"

Avyuktha didn't answer immediately. Her gaze flickered, first toward Abhimanyu, then briefly past Arnav, never quite meeting his eyes. She simply shook her head, a small, almost imperceptible gesture.

"Bhai..." she said after a pause, her voice low, fragile, "thoda paani de denge...Aaru ke liye."

Abhimanyu nodded immediately, pouring water into a glass and passing it to her.

She took it carefully, one arm still around Aarush. She brought the rim to his lips first, making him drink slow sips until his breathing steadied. Then she brushed the wetness off his cheeks with her thumb, her expression soft but distant, like she was here, but her mind was still trapped somewhere else.

"Main thik hoon, Aaru," she whispered again, forcing a small smile for him. "Ro mat, baccha."

Her words were for Aarush, but her silence, it lingered somewhere else entirely.

The door opened softly and the faint sound of hurried footsteps followed.

Pari entered, her hair slightly messy from rushing, worry written all over her face. She didn't say a word at first. She simply walked straight to Avyuktha, her gaze sweeping over the trembling girl, holding a tear striked boy in her arms.

Without disturbing Aarush, Pari knelt down in front of her, her movements gentle, practiced, the calm of a doctor blending seamlessly with the tenderness of a sister.

"Avu..." she whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Baccha, zara meri taraf dekho."

Avyuktha looked at her slowly, eyes still red, lashes damp.

Pari smiled faintly, reassuringly, and took out her stethoscope. Her hands were steady, her touch feather light as she checked Avyuktha's pulse, then her heartbeat, and temperature.

Abhimanyu stood behind her silently, watching with folded arms, worry etched into the tight line of his jaw. Arnav sat motionless a few feet away, gaze fixed on the Avyuktha, his hands clenched into fists.

After a minute, Pari exhaled softly and looked up at Abhimanyu.
"Vitals normal hain," she said quietly. "Bas... nightmare tha. But I need to know if it's something recurring."

Then, she turned back to Avyuktha, her voice lowering, soft as a lullaby.

"Baccha, ek baat puchu?"

Avyuktha blinked, then nodded slowly.

Pari cupped her face with both hands, thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks, the warmth of that touch enough to melt the tremor in Avyuktha's breath.

"Baccha, tujhe nightmares hamesha aate hain... ya kabhi kabhi?" Pari asked, her tone patient, motherly. "Sacch batana, Avu."

For a moment, Avyuktha just stared at her, the tenderness in Pari's eyes breaking something quiet inside her.

Her throat worked, and finally, she whispered, "Kabhi kabhi... aate hain." looking down in her lap.

Pari's expression softened further, her fingers still resting against Avyuktha's face as if anchoring her back to safety.

Pari's thumb brushed away the dampness at the corner of Avyuktha's eye.

Her voice stayed soft, steady, the kind of tone that made even the broken parts inside someone stop hiding.

"Avu..." she began, her gaze steady on the girl's fragile face, "Koi baat hui thi? ....Ya kuch aisa yaad aaya... jisne tujhe dara diya?"

Avyuktha's eyes flickered towards Arnav, just a faint tremor in her composure, but Pari noticed.

For a heartbeat, she didn't reply. Her hand kept resting protectively over Aarush's back as if the steady rhythm of his breathing could ground her.

"Kabhi kabhi," Avyuktha said finally, her voice no louder than a whisper, "Hota hai aisa....Sapne mai puraani cheezein dikhti hai phir aise hi hota hai."

Pari didn't push. She knew that tone, the one that carried both exhaustion and restraint. The kind that says I remember more than I can bear to tell.

She just nodded gently. "Thik hai, baccha... bas itna hi puchhna tha."

Abhimanyu exhaled quietly from behind her, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. Arnav, still sitting beside her, looked up for a brief second, his eyes searching Avyuktha's face. But when she instinctively avoided his gaze, he looked at her longingly...he was thinking

Why again...?

The thought clawed at his chest before he could stop it.

He could still feel the faint warmth of her hand from earlier, the way she'd almost looked at him, almost, before retreating behind those walls again. The same walls he thought he'd started to break.

Maybe it was because of the morning... the stupid accident that shouldn't have happened. The way her eyes had widened, the tremor in her breath, he'd seen fear before, but that... that was different. It wasn't fear of him, but fear from within her, like something inside had snapped.

And now, sitting beside her, watching her fold back into silence, he felt that familiar ache, the helplessness of not knowing how to reach her without breaking her further.

Pari caught the fleeting exchange but didn't comment. Her priority was Avyuktha, the pale face, the trembling fingers that still clutched Aarush's shirt.

"Avu..." she said softly, "Tu thoda sa pani pee le, fir hum baat karte hain"

Avyuktha nodded faintly, obedient like a child who'd run out of strength to argue.

Pari helped her take a few slow sips, then set the glass aside. Her palm lingered on Avyuktha's head, fingers slipping through her hair in that absent, comforting way only Pari could manage.

"Tu abhi kuch mat soch," she whispered, "main hoon na, baccha. Kuch nahi hoga."

Avyuktha's lashes fluttered, eyes brimming again, but she swallowed it down, her only answer a small, weary nod.

The room fell silent again, only the faint hum of the ceiling fan filling the air.

Pari rose slowly, her hand brushing Avyuktha's hair one last time before standing. "Tu thoda rest kar, baccha. Main aur Abhi bas baat karke aate hain, thik?"

Avyuktha nodded faintly, eyes lowered.

Abhimanyu gave Arnav a small look, part reassurance, part instruction, before following Pari out. The door closed behind them with a muted click, and silence settled in again.

Inside, the room was dim, just the soft glow of the bedside lamp touching Avyuktha's pale face. Aarush, sitting close to her, his little fingers tracing absent patterns on her arm as if still making sure she was real.

Avyuktha managed a faint smile for him, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Aaru... main thik hoon," she murmured.

Aarush nodded and leaned against her shoulder, eyes half-lidded, comforted simply by her voice.

Arnav sat beside them, his gaze shifting between the two silently. He'd been quiet for a while, unsure if his words would soothe or break something further. But the worry clawing at his chest refused to stay in.

"Avu..." he said softly. "Tu thik hai na?"

She nodded once, without looking up.

The distance in that small gesture hit harder than any shout could have. Arnav waited a moment, then tried again.

"Bura sapna tha?" he asked carefully, leaning forward slightly.

"Hm." Just that. A faint hum. No elaboration, no glance.

Her voice sounded normal, but her tone. It was polite. Detached. Like she was talking to someone she didn't want to push away, but couldn't quite let near either.

Arnav's brows knitted. "Kya dekha tha, baccha?" he asked softly. "Agar batana chahe toh..."

Avyuktha's hand paused mid-motion, the one that had been soothing Aarush's hair, then resumed again. "Kuch nahi," she said quietly, her eyes fixed on the floor.

He wanted to say more, to ask why she wouldn't look at him, but something in her stillness stopped him. So he just nodded, staring at his hands, feeling more lost than before.

Outside the room

Pari stood in the hallway, arms folded, her expression thoughtful. Abhimanyu leaned against the wall beside her, glancing toward the closed door.

"She's fine now, right?" he asked softly.

Pari nodded, then exhaled. "Physically, yes. But emotionally..." She paused, her gaze distant. "Avu ke reaction dekhkar lagta hai, ye nightmare koi usual cheez nahi thi..... It felt triggered."

"Triggered?" Abhimanyu frowned. "By what?"

Pari turned slightly toward him, her voice lowering. "By what happened earlier, Abhi...Bhai ka faint hona.... For someone like Avu, who's already seen more than she should, that sight could've shaken something inside her."

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened. "You mean... some past trauma?"

Pari nodded slowly. "Maybe. I'm not sure yet. But jab maine usse pucha... uske aankhon mein dar tha, wohi purana dar..jo tab aata hai jab koi purani yaad wapas surface karti hai."

Abhimanyu fell silent for a moment, processing her words.
"She's strong," he murmured, almost to himself.

Pari's gaze softened. "Strong people tremble too, Abhi. Bas farq itna hai....They tremble silently."

For a moment, neither spoke. The hallway felt too quiet....only the faint hum of the ceiling fan breaking the stillness.

Pari looked back at the closed door and whispered, "I just hope Bhai understands her silence before it builds walls he can't cross."

The door opened again.Pari walked in first, followed by Abhimanyu both visibly calmer, but their faces carried that quiet, simmering concern.

Avyuktha glanced up briefly, her eyes tired but steady. Aarush straightened a little beside her, still leaning into her side, his small hand holding her sleeve tightly.

Pari moved closer and sat beside Avyuktha on the bed, her tone soft but purposeful. "Thik lag raha hai ab, baccha?"

"Haan," Avyuktha whispered.

The evening lights had just begun to bloom across the mansion, soft gold spilling from the chandeliers, chasing away the quiet that had settled after the storm.

But inside the living room, the air was still thick, not with noise, but with everything left unsaid.

Pari sat on the couch, holding a mug she hadn't even sipped from. Abhimanyu stood beside her, one hand resting on the backrest, eyes fixed somewhere far beyond the window. Neither of them spoke.

And across the room, Arnav stood, restless, helpless, the weight of his own silence gnawing at him.

"Pari..." he said softly at first. No response.

He took a hesitant step forward. "Pari, please... ek baar meri baat..."

Pari didn't even turn her head. Not once. She just kept staring at the floor, thumb running absently along the edge of the mug, the kind of motion people use to hold themselves together.

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened, but he too said nothing. His silence was sharper than words.

Arnav's chest burned. "Mannu... please at least you..."

Abhimanyu moved past him, not roughly, but deliberately, brushing his shoulder slightly, the way someone does when they've run out of patience. He picked up a file from the table and began flipping through it, as if Arnav's voice didn't even exist in the room.

That cut deeper than anger ever could.

Arnav ran a hand through his hair, voice breaking now. "I am sorry....i know what i did was wrong...galti ho gyi mujhse...i am sorry"

Still no reply. Not even a glance. The two people he trusted most, the ones who always listened, suddenly, they felt miles away.

His throat tightened. "Pari..." His voice cracked, raw and uneven. "Ek baar dekh toh le meri taraf....please."

Pari blinked slowly, as if forcing herself not to react. Her grip on the mug trembled for a moment, but she didn't look up.

That was when the main door opened.

Maan and Anvi stepped in, laughing softly about something from college, their bags slung over their shoulders. The laughter died the second they saw the scene before them, the silence, the heavy faces, Arnav standing there like a ghost among the living.

Maan frowned instantly, his eyes flicking from Arnav to Pari to Abhimanyu. "What happened?"

No one answered.

Anvi's smile faded too, confusion clouding her face. She looked at Arnav, his eyes red, his hands trembling slightly and took a step toward him. "Bhaiya?"

He forced a weak smile, voice barely steady. "Kuch nahi, baccha. Tum dono fresh ho jao."

But his tone said otherwise.

Anvi hesitated, then turned toward Pari. "Pari di....Bhai?"

Pari finally stood up, setting the mug down. "Tum dono jao, change kar lo," she said softly, too softly. "Dinner thodi der mein ready ho jaayega....Mai baad mai sb batati hoon."

Maan caught the edge in her voice and nodded quietly, pulling Anvi along toward the stairs. She glanced back once more, worried.

As their footsteps faded, Arnav looked back at Pari, her face calm, unreadable. He tried again, one last time. "Pari, please...."

Pari turned and walked away toward the kitchen without even glancing towards Arnav, Abhimanyu followed her.

Arnav was left standing alone, the laughter that had once filled the house now replaced with silence so thick it hurt to breathe.

Dlinner at the Jaisingh Mansion had never been this quiet.

The clinking of cutlery was the only sound that dared to exist, sharp, lonely, echoing off the marble walls like reminders of everything that had gone wrong today.

Everyone sat at the table leaving the empty head chair for Viren, Abhimanyu at on the left, Pari beside him, Maan and Anvi across, Aarush sitting between them, and Arnav at the far end. His usual place of laughter now felt like exile.

Pari had cooked that evening, her calm hands moving through the kitchen almost mechanically, her silence louder than anger. The fragrance of ghee and spices filled the room, but it couldn't mask the tension in the air.

Arnav sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the plate before him. His stomach churned with guilt, the food felt like stones in his throat, yet he forced himself to swallow, pretending he could taste anything at all.

He looked around, everyone was eating, but no one was looking at him. Pari told Maan and Anvi what happened today and now they are also giving cold shoulders to him.

Whereas, the sunshine of the house Aarush was pretty shaken up from today's incidents and was unusually silent.

Arnav heart was clenching because their silent treatment, he didn't know how to earn his forgiveness but,

He tried. "Mannu... vo paani pass kar de."

Abhimanyu's hand moved, passing the glass toward him without even glancing up. No words, no acknowledgment. Just movement.

Arnav's throat tightened as he took the glass. He hesitated, then said softly, "Pari... khaana bahut acha bana hai."

Pari didn't respond. Didn't even blink. She simply continued eating, as if he hadn't spoken at all.

That silence... it hurt more than any scolding ever could.

Arnav looked toward Maan and Anvi, their faces down, quiet, their plates half-full. "Tum dono ka din kaisa gaya?" he asked, trying to sound normal, trying to bridge the gap that had suddenly become a canyon.

Maan didn't look up. "Theek tha," he said curtly.

Anvi murmured the same, "Theek tha," her voice flat. No smile, no warmth.

The guilt inside him clawed deeper. Every heartbeat echoed with regret, if only he hadn't ignored his health, if only he hadn't made them worry this way.

He turned back toward Pari, desperate now. "Pari... Avu ka bandage change kar diya tune?"

He knew she must've done it, but the question wasn't about knowing, it was about needing her to talk to him, to say something, anything.

Pari's spoon paused mid-air. For a second, he thought she might finally look up.

But all she said, in a voice so calm it almost hurt, was "Hmm."

Just that.

And it broke him.

He looked down at his plate, appetite gone, throat burning. He couldn't take another bite. The silence was suffocating, pressing in from all sides, his family there yet so far away.

He set his spoon down and slowly began to rise from his seat, his head bowed. He couldn't take it anymore....the distance, the quiet disappointment that hung like a storm cloud over him.

But before he could step away, a voice cut through the still air, low, cold, and commanding.

"Sit down and finish your dinner."

It was Abhimanyu.

Arnav froze mid-step. The tone wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that sent a chill straight down his spine.

He looked toward Abhimanyu, but he didn't even glance at him, his gaze stayed fixed on his plate, his posture rigid.

Arnav swallowed hard, his heart thundering in his chest. "Mannu mujhe..."

"Sit."

That one word silenced him completely.

He sank back into his chair, his eyes downcast. Every movement after that felt heavy. He picked up the spoon again, forcing the food past the lump in his throat, his hands trembling.

No one spoke. No one looked at him.

Only the sound of cutlery filled the room again....cold and hollow, like the echo of a heart breaking quietly in the middle of a family that loved him too much to forgive him easily.

After dinner, Pari quietly moved to the kitchen to prepare haldi milk for Avyuktha, it would help her injuries heal faster.

Arnav, seeing her alone, hesitated for a moment, then approached her, guilt and worry written across his face.

Meanwhile, the rest of the house settled. Abhimanyu went to his room, and Avyuktha, Anvi, Maan, and Aarush moved to the guest room where Avyuktha would sleep for the night. The atmosphere was heavy, the day's chaos still lingering silently in the air.

Pari was quietly preparing haldi milk, her movements calm and precise.

Arnav stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Pari..."

She didn't look up, continuing to took out the vessel for preparing the milk

"Pari... please, baat toh sun le," he said again, stepping closer, the guilt in his tone unmistakable.

She moved toward the fridge to get the milk, and before she could reach it, Arnav quickly took it out and placed it on the counter. She poured the milk into the vessel, her hands steady.

She bent to reach for the sugar. Arnav's hand shot out, holding it for her. She didn't take it directly from him, instead opening the drawer to grab the haldi.

Arnav quietly placed the sugar container on the counter. She picked it up, added it to the milk, and waited for it to shimmer.

The silence pressed down on him like a weight. His throat tightened.
"Pari... please..." he whispered, voice trembling. "Sorry..."

She didn't respond.

Desperation rising, he held his ears and moved closer, standing right beside her. His voice broke this time.
"Pari... sorry na..."

Her hands paused mid-motion. Her gaze flicked to him briefly. His eyes, glistening with guilt, held hers, raw and pleading. For a heartbeat, the air between them was taut with everything left unsaid.

As he stood there holding his ears.

Pari finally looked at him. Her eyes flickered with fury, sharp and unyielding. For the first time, she acknowledged his presence, a glance that carried all the weight of disappointment and restrained anger but she didn't say a word.

Her gaze shifted back to the milk on the stove, watching patiently as it began to shimmer and wait for the boil.

Arnav stood frozen beside her, head bowed, hands clutching his ears. The guilt pressed down on him harder than anything ever had. He swallowed, throat constricted, and tried again.

"Pari..." His voice trembled, low, almost breaking under the weight of regret. "I... I am really sorry... Please... baat toh kar."

It was barely a whisper, heavy and raw, the desperation in it almost palpable.

Pari didn't turn to him. She continued stirring the milk slowly, her silence louder than any reply, leaving him standing there, trapped between remorse and helplessness.

Arnav was standing beside Pari, hands still holding his ears, head bowed down, completely frozen. His gaze was cast to the floor, shimmering with tears, sniffing softly.

Pari exhaled and turned, humming softly as she moved to turn off the stove. Her eyes, sharp yet brimming with restrained fury, flicked toward him.
"Kyu sorry bol rhe hai aap... hm?"

Arnav looked up at her eyes, wet with emotion, clutching his ears tightly. His voice broke slightly, low and trembling.
"Please... Pari... sorry na..."

Pari shook her head, reaching out to pull his hands down gently. Her voice was quiet, but laced with anger.
"Kyu sorry bol rhe hai aap... bataiye..."

He just stood there like a guilty child caught in the act, shrinking under her gaze.

She continued, fury threading through each word, voice low but cutting,
"Aapko zara bhi farak nahi padta na... zara sa bhi nahi na. Aap har baar wahi same cheez karte hai... aur har baar sorry bol dete hai..."

Her dam broke then, tears flowing freely, making Arnav feel the weight of every word even more.

"Do you have any idea how scared we all were?" she continued, her voice rising slightly, trembling now. "Aapko zara bhi idea hai hum sab pe kya beeti thi?"

Pari stepped toward him, grabbing his bicep and jerking him slightly so he would meet her gaze. Her voice trembled with a mixture of fury and fear
"Kyu krte hai aap aisa... haan? Kyu krte hai aap aisa.....Aapko zara bhi farak nhi padta hai humlogo se....ha? "

Arnav's throat bobbled. His voice cracked as he tried to respond,
"Aisa nahi hai Pari... I am sorry..."

Pari shook her head and stepped back, her tears now flowing freely as her voice rose slightly:
"Nhi... Aapko zara sa bhi farak nahi padta bhai... Aap har baar wahi same cheez karte ho... aur har baar sorry bol dete ho..."

Her hands moved furiously, wiping her tears, trembling slightly. "Aapko pata hai hum sab kitna darr gaye the... aapko aise dekh ke?" Her voice wavered, cracking under the weight of fear. "Hum sbki saas atak gyi thi aapko aise dekh ke"

Arnav stepped forward, trying desperately to reach her, but she shook her head, stepping back.

"Aapko pata hai hum sab ki kya halat ho gayi thi... Meri Abhi ki, Aaru ki, Avu ki..." Her voice trembled, breaking slightly as she continued. "Din mai Avu ko jo nightmare aaya tha... aapki wajah se aaya tha, bhai... Aapko vaise dekh ke... pata nahi uss bacchi ka konsa trauma trigger ho gaya tha... Already uske sath itna galat hua hai... Aur aaj phir se uss bacchi ko tootate dekha maine."

Arnav froze. The world dimmed, sound folding into silence, only Pari's words lingered, "Avu ka nightmare..."
They struck like shards, sharp and unrelenting, each one sinking deeper into him.

His breath trembled, chest tightening until it hurt to exist. The guilt clawed upward, burning through every fragile thread of control. His hands shook, his color drained, even the air around him felt heavy, punishing.

Tears welled, quiet and unresisted. Not for pity, just the raw ache of knowing.
Because somewhere between the words and the silence, he understood
he hadn't meant to hurt her...
but he was the reason she broke.

Pari's eyes softened for a second, but she pushed the weakness down, stepping closer again, gripping his bicep and forcing his gaze upward. Her eyes bore into his, trembling with emotion, "Kyu krte hai aap aisa haan?"

She spoke rapidly, voice almost quivering now, words tumbling out, "Kyu aapko duniya bhar ki fikar hoti hai, lekin AAPKE PASS......APNE LIYE zara bhi time nahi hai... Aapko sab yaad rehta hai.
....Maan ko kya chahiye, Anvi ko kya chahiye, Avu ki dawai kitne time deni hai... sab yaad rehta hai.....Lekin.....Lekin apni dawai lena kyu nahi yaad rehta? Kyu time se khana khana nahi yaad rehta? .......AAP HAR BAAR..... har baar wahi karte ho... tab tak laparwahi karte ho, jabtak aapki body give up na kar de..."

The air grew heavy between them. Arnav's lips quivered....no defense, no words. Just pain. He tried to open his mouth, but nothing came out except a broken gasp. His eyes glistened, tears streaming freely now as her words struck deeper than any wound ever could.

And then, something in him broke.

He couldn't hold himself anymore. With a shuddering sob, he threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Pari froze for a moment then melted into the embrace, her own arms wrapping around him as if to anchor him to life itself. His head pressed into her neck, his tears soaking her suit.

"I am really sorry, Pari..." he whispered, voice raw with guilt. "I... I am really sorry..."

She held him tighter.

For a long moment, neither moved, just a brother breaking apart and a sister holding him together. The silence was loud, their sobs the only sound echoing in the room.

Then, Arnav broke the hug slightly, his face streaked with tears, eyes red and swollen. His voice cracked as he whispered hoarsely, "Pari... mujhse galti ho gayi yaar.... Avu phir se mujhse door ho gayi, Pari..."

Pari's chest constricted at the sight of him like that.....broken, guilty, almost childlike in his pain. Her own throat tightened as she realized what her words had done. She cursed herself silently for losing her calm, for letting her frustration spill over like that.

She cupped his face gently, thumbs brushing away his tears.
"Bhai... sab thik ho jayega," she murmured softly.

He shook his head helplessly, voice trembling as he cried like a child in his mother's arms, "Kaise, Pari... vo mujhse baat bhi nahi kar rahi... meri taraf bhi nahi dekh rahi... vo phir se mujhse door ho gayi..."

Guilt crawled through every word he spoke, his body trembling with the weight of his remorse.

Pari held his face firmer, her own eyes moist. "Bhai... vo bahut darr gayi thi aapko aise dekh ke. Phir vo nightmare... abhi abhi usse safe feel hua tha aur aapko aise dekh ke vo ekdam toot gayi hai..."

Her thumb brushed his cheek again as she added, voice barely a whisper,
"Lekin bhai, vo aapse bahut pyaar karti hai... bahut zyada....Maine dekha tha uski aakhon mai...Uska pair jala hua tha lakin uss bacchi ki nazar aapke hi ruki hui thi...Jab tak aapko hosh nhi aaya....Tb tak uski saas ruki hui thi....She feels safe with you. Aap usko phir se vo sense of security dilaiye...Ki aap usko kabhi chodke nhi jayenge....That you won't step back from her."

Arnav blinked through his tears, the guilt slowly giving way to something steadier, resolve. He shook his head, this time not in despair but determination.
"Kabhi nahi, Pari..." his voice steadied, a soft promise beneath the tremor. "I won't ever step back."

Pari smiled faintly, her eyes shining with pride and relief."Bas...Aap usko bharosa dilaiye ki aap hamesha uske sath hai. Approach her, bhai... before she builds her walls so high that even you can't break them."

Arnav nodded, wiping his eyes, a flicker of determination returning to his face.

He broke the hug just slightly again, pinching his throat like a small child making a promise, "Pakka... dobara nahi hoga..."

He held his ears again, voice trembling, pleading, "Please... iss baar maaf kr de... please..."

Pari couldn't hold back any longer. She hugged him again, fiercer this time. Arnav clung to her, sobbing slowly into her arms. Her hands moved to wipe his tears, and he gently wiped hers in return.

"Dobara nahi hona chahiye, bhai... kabhi bhi nahi. Nahi toh... mai aapse kabhi baat nahi karungi phir," she whispered softly.

Arnav bobbed his head, voice small and childlike, "Pakka... kabhi nahi hoga dobara."

Pari finally let out a soft laugh through her tears, wiping his cheek again.
"Ab bas rona band kariye....Ekdm laal bandar ho gye hai aap."

Arnav sniffled, managing a faint grin.
"Aur tu meri laal bandariya."

She rolled her eyes, laughing through the tears, and flicked his forehead.
"Bandar ki behen toh bandariya hi hui."

They shared a soft, tearful laugh. After a pause, they drank some water together.

Pari turned back to the stove, turning the milk on again. Arnav, feeling slightly lighter but still trembling, hopped onto the counter beside her, silently watching, wanting to stay near her, Pari moved quietly at the stove, stirring the haldi milk, the aroma warm in the small kitchen.

He spoke, voice low, pleading, almost fragile, "Pari..."

She cut him sharply, without even looking up.
"Nhi."

Her tone was final, almost knowing exactly what he was about to say.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice soft and desperate, like a child asking for his favorite candy, "Pari... please..."

Pari shook her head, still focused on the milk, "Nhi... mai Abhi se koi baat nhi karungi."

Arnav hopped down from the counter, hands outstretched, and grasped both of hers. His voice wavered, pleading, eyes glistening, "Pari... please na... pleaseeee..."

She slowly detached his hands, shaking her head firmly, voice low and unyielding, "Nhi... Galti aapne khud ki hai... Toh ab aap hi baat karenge unse... Mai nhi bolungi kuch."

Arnav's tone shifted, small and coaxing, like a child trying to convince his mother to save him from his father's scolding,
"Pari... please na... meri pyaari behen hai na tu... Please baat kar le na Maanu se..."

She shook her head again, her voice sharp, simmering with anger now,
"Nhi... Baat karna toh dur ki baat hai... meri toh ye ichha hai ki unse bolke aapko aur daat padwau..."

Arnav's lower lip trembled, and he instinctively took a step back, whining, voice small and hurt, "Paariii yaar... ho gyi na... choti si galti... chod na..."

Pari's eyes finally lifted to meet his, fury flashing, her hands gripping the edge of the counter, "Aapko ye choti si galti lagti hai?...Do you even realise what could have happened to you today.."

He flinched, his shoulders sagging under the weight of her stare. His chest heaved, eyes pleading, voice soft and broken:
"Pari... main... main samajh raha hoon... I didn't mean to..."

Pari didn't let him finish. She leaned slightly toward him, voice low but sharp, each word deliberate," Nhi....you DID mean that....YOU DID....Kyuki aapke liye....apne aap se judi har cheez choti hi hoti hai."

Arnav's throat tightened, his eyes glistening, body trembling slightly. He bit his lip, voice cracking, barely above a whisper, "Pari aisa nhi hai....sorry... mai dobara nahi karunga..."

Pari exhaled sharply, shaking her head again, and turned her attention back to the milk, voice firm but quieter, "Mai Abhi se koi baat nhi karungi..."

Arnav sank slightly onto the counter, shoulders slumped, staring at her hands in his. His voice small, desperate, trying one last time, "Pari... meri pyaari behen hai na tu... please... bas baat kar le... sirf is baar....Pari tu toh janti hai na....Tera pati ek number ka Sadist hai...Khadoos hai.....please bacha le na Pari apne Bhai ko"

Pari's lips pressed into a thin line, eyes softening just slightly at his earnest pleading, but her hands stayed steady on the counter. Her voice, firm and uncompromising, left no room for negotiation, "Nhi... Har baar mai aapko bacha leti hoon...isliye aap dobara vhi same cheez kete hai....This time I won't interfere between you and Abhi"

Arnav's lower lip quivered. His body shook slightly, and he whispered, almost to himself, "Mai... mai dobara nahi karunga... pakka..."

Pari looked at him, then turned toward the stove, stirring the pan with exaggerated calm. Without even glancing at him, she said in her sharp-yet-deadpan tone, "Aur pehli baat....mere pati sadist nahi hai... aapki harkatein vaisi hain. Aur dusri baat....vo mere pati se pehle aapke dost cum bade bhai hai... aur main interfere nahi karti brothers ke beech.....And specifically not this time."

Arnav's jaw practically dropped. He blinked at her like she had just snatched away his favorite candy right out of his hand.

"Pari! Tu bhi uski side le rahi hai?" he said sulking.

Pari didn't even bother looking up, she just raised an eyebrow mid-stir, the tiniest smirk threatening her lips.

Arnav slumped on the nearest stool, pouting miserably, his shoulders drooping like a scolded schoolboy.
He looked at her in betrayal, eyes wide, lips pushed out in a tragic pout, as if she'd just declared halwa illegal.

"Tu toh meri partner-in-crime thi..." he muttered under his breath, sulking. "Maa toh pehle se hi Mannu ke team mai thi...Ab tu bhi...."

Pari finally turned slightly, giving him a side-eye that screamed don't test me, and said sweetly, "Aapki harkatein side lene wali nhi hai....Maa shi krti thi...ab mujhe smjh aa raha hai."

Arnav felt guilty and looked down... Now pouting more miserably

The faintest chuckle escaped Pari's lips as she hid her smile behind the ladle, watching Arnav, grown-up yet still fearful of Abhimanyu, pleading with her exactly like he used to as a child with his maa... that same desperate, puppy-eyed charm, trying to convince her to save him from Abhimanyu.

Pari poured the haldi milk carefully into the vessel, the warm aroma filling the kitchen. She picked it up and started to move toward Avyuktha's room.

She paused halfway, not turning back to him, voice calm but firm, carrying a subtle edge of warning.
"Jitna jaldi baat karenge, utna acha hai... varna aapki marzii..."

Her eyes briefly flicked toward the counter, acknowledging him without words. Then, with a casual, almost nonchalant shrug, she said,
"Mai Avu ke room mai jaa rhi hoon."

And just like that, she moved toward Avyuktha's room, the soft swish of her footsteps echoing down the hall, leaving Arnav standing alone in the kitchen. The room felt suddenly colder, emptier, the weight of guilt and regret pressing down on him, heavier than ever.

He remained where he was, shoulders slumped, watching the doorway through which she had disappeared, knowing there was no one to turn to now, only silence and the memory of her stern yet caring presence.

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