Chapter: Buddhiheen Bhakt

Anvi moved anxiously across the hallway that led to Abhimanyu’s room.
Her steps were unsteady, her heartbeat uneven. Guilt, fear, sadness, determination, everything mixed inside her like a storm she didn’t know how to quiet. She kept taking slow, shaky breaths, trying to calm herself. She had to apologise today. She couldn’t delay it anymore. She needed to tell him she was sorry… that she didn’t mean any of it… that she missed her Bhai.

Just as she lifted her hand to knock, the door opened.

Pari stepped out in a rush and almost bumped into her.

“Kya hua, Anvi?” she asked quickly, already looking flustered.

Anvi whispered, “Di… Bhai se baat karni thi.”

Pari didn’t even let her finish. “Not now, Anvi. Baad mein baat karna.”

“Di, please…” Anvi tried again, voice trembling.

Pari snapped, too overwhelmed from inside, too hurried to notice the softness in Anvi’s tone. “Abhi nahi bola na, Anvi? Ek baar mein koi baat samajhti nahi ho? Hamesha zidd aur badtameezi hi karni hai, right?”

The words hit harder than intended.

Pari walked away without looking back… and because she didn’t look, she didn’t see the tears that had already filled Anvi’s eyes.

Anvi lowered her gaze, her shoulders sinking. The tears spilled before she could stop them. Quietly, she turned around and walked to her room. The moment she shut the door, the silence broke her. She sat on the floor, crying into her hands...small, breathless sobs that only grew heavier.

Her mind kept replaying everything she had told Arnav… each harsh word echoing like a wound she kept scratching open. She thought of the man who always protected her, taught her, stood by her like a father… and she had hurt him. She had pushed him away.

How could she?

The guilt became too much, crawling
under her skin, tightening her chest until the whole room felt smaller and suffocating.

Her breath caught. Her palms trembled. She felt like she couldn’t breathe properly.

Needing air, needing something, she quickly wiped her tears, stood up, and stepped out of the room before she could think someone bumped into her. The emotions she had been trying to hold back spilled out as choking sobs.

She didn’t know where her feet were taking her… only that she couldn’t stay there another second. Strong arms steadied her before she could stumble further.

∆∆∆

The hall was quiet and soft under the yellow lamps when Pari reached there.

Arnav sat on the sofa with Avyuktha tucked against his side and Aarush sitting comfortably on his lap, animatedly explaining something with his tiny hands.

Arnav nodded at every word, smiling gently, while Avyuktha listened with a small tired smile of her own.

Throughout the conversation, Arnav’s hand kept moving in slow, soothing circles on Avyuktha’s arm, comforting her without saying a word. And Avyuktha leaned into him, trusting him completely, her head resting lightly against his chest.

It was such a normal, peaceful moment… the kind Anvi had been craving for days.

Just then, Pari came hurrying down the stairs.

Arnav immediately noticed the panic on her face. “Kya hua?” he asked, straightening slightly but still holding the kids close.

Pari exhaled quickly. “Vo… Bhai, Abhi ko halka bukhaar hai. Maine medicine de di hai. Sponging bhi kr di hai...bukhaar pehle se kam hua hai lakin abhi pura nhi utara hai. Par mujhe hospital jaana padega. Emergency case aaya hai. Mujhe abhi nikalna hoga. Aap Abhi ko dekh lijiyega.”

She was already stepping toward the door when Arnav raised his voice softly, “Pari, ruk.”

She turned.

“Driver ko saath le jaa,” he said, his tone calm but protective. “Aur security tumhare peeche chalegi. Pahoch kar message karna. It’s really late. Aur jab wapas chalogi tab bhi call karna, okay?”

Pari slowed, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit at his words.

She gave a small grateful smile. “Theek hai, Bhai. I’ll text you.” And with that, she rushed out again, completely unaware of the storm of guilt and fear quietly building just a few steps behind her… where Anvi stood, hands trembling and eyes still red.

Arnav quietly walked toward Abhimanyu’s room, and Avyuktha and Aarush followed him without a word, their little footsteps soft in the silent corridor.

Inside, the room was dim. Abhimanyu lay under a duvet, eyes closed, his fingers gently pressing his forehead to ease the ache. Every now and then he stretched his legs a little, trying to relax the soreness.

Arnav’s chest tightened at the sight.
He moved closer and sat beside him, voice soft, “Mannu… sir dard ho raha hai?”

Abhimanyu opened his eyes slowly. Through the haze of fever, he still managed a faint smile. “Haan, thoda sa… tu chinta mat kar,” he whispered. “Raat bahot ho gayi hai… so ja, Arni.”
Even burning with fever, he was still thinking about Arnav’s rest first.

Arnav didn’t reply. He stood up, opened the drawer, and took out a small bottle of oil. Returning to sit beside him, he poured some into his palms and gently placed his hands on Abhimanyu’s head, beginning a soft massage.

Abhimanyu blinked in surprise. “Arni… main theek hoon, baccha. Tu jaa so ja…”

Arnav shook his head lightly. “Dada, karne do na.”

Abhimanyu’s resistance softened instantly at the quiet plea.

But then, he felt a tiny hand touch his feet.

He glanced down and saw Avyuktha sitting near his legs, her small fingers hesitantly but gently pressing his calf.

“A-Avu… Avu, kya kar rahi ho baccha?” he asked, immediately pulling his legs away.

Avyuktha said softly, “Bhai… aapko pair mein dard ho raha hai na? Main thodi si massage kar deti hoon… aapko aaram milega.”

Abhimanyu frowned. “Nahi, Avu… koi zarurat nahi hai. Jaa, soja.”

Avyuktha shook her head stubbornly. “Nahi bhai… thoda sa daba deti hoon. Phir so jaungi, pakka.”

“Avyuktha,” he tried again, “Tu pair nahi dabayegi.”

But she lowered her gaze and whispered, almost hurt, “Bhai… main behen hoon na aapki… toh dabane do na… please?”

Abhimanyu exhaled deeply, the same stubborn Jaisingh streak. He knew she wouldn’t stop. He gave up, lying back down, eyes closing, though he was clearly uncomfortable with her massaging his feet.

Avyuktha’s face, however, bloomed into a proud little smile. She focused completely, her tiny fingers moving carefully to ease his pain.

Aarush sat at the edge of the bed, watching Arnav massaging Abhimanyu’s head and Avyuktha massaging his legs.
He observed quietly… thought for a moment… then slowly climbed onto the bed.

Without saying anything, he lay down next to Abhimanyu, placed his tiny head on Abhimanyu’s shoulder, and wrapped one small arm around his chest.

Abhimanyu opened his eyes slightly and looked at him, puzzled and amused.

Aarush looked up and explained with full seriousness, “Main aapko garam kar raha hoon.”

A soft laugh escaped Abhimanyu despite the fever.

His heart warmed, truly warmed, seeing the three little Jaisinghs caring for him in their own ways.

Arnav’s fingers continued their gentle circles on his head.

Avyuktha kept pressing his legs with full concentration.

Aarush cuddled into him, holding on tightly.

Slowly, the exhaustion and the medicine began to take over. Abhimanyu drifted into sleep… and Aarush soon followed, still hugging him close.

The room fell quiet again, filled only with soft breaths and a warmth that fever couldn’t touch.

And in that quiet room, wrapped in the soft glow of a lamp and the gentlest love, the night settled calmly around them.

It was well past midnight.

Arnav and Avyuktha still hadn’t moved from Abhimanyu’s side. Arnav had tried, to make her sleep, but Avyuktha didn’t budge even an inch. Her eyes stayed fixed on Abhimanyu, worried, alert, refusing to close until she was sure he was fine.

Now, as the room’s dim light flickered softly, Arnav looked at Abhimanyu again.

His breathing was deep and steady.
His face looked calm.
The fever… was finally gone.

A quiet relief washed over Arnav.

He stood up slowly, careful not to disturb Aarush who was curled like a tiny kitten on Abhimanyu’s chest. Then he walked around the bed to where Avyuktha was sitting, her little legs folded, her eyes heavy but still determinedly open.

Arnav knelt in front of her.

He gently swept his thumb across her cheek, cupping her face with both hands.
His voice was soft, warm, almost whisper-like.

“Avu… Bhai ka fever utar gaya, baccha. Chalo… ab toh so jao?”

The relief in Avyuktha’s eyes was instant.
She nodded...small, slow, but certain.
The tension she had been carrying finally slipped away.

Arnav smiled at her. A soft, pure smile full of affection and pride.

Because this wasn’t the first time.

The moment Avyuktha had started believing, truly believing that they were family… she held onto them fiercely.
She protected them, cared for them, loved them with every tiny piece of her heart.

The way she stepped in front of Anvi that day without thinking, shielding her. The way she sat with Arnav when he had broken down after Anvi’s outburst. And tonight… she stayed awake, refusing to leave Abhimanyu’s side until she knew he was safe.

She was small.
But her heart…
was the biggest among them all.

Arnav’s chest warmed with a sudden swell of affection and pride. She wasn’t just a child. She was a nurturer. A gentle, instinctively protective soul.

He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Then he whispered, “Avu… aaj mere room mein soyegi? Aaru yahin so gaya hai.”

Avyuktha looked at Aarush...little, peaceful, asleep in Abhimanyu’s arms like he belonged there. A small smile touched her lips. She nodded.

Without thinking twice, Arnav slipped his hands under her and lifted her up effortlessly.

The moment her feet left the ground, Avyuktha let out a tiny, breathy shriek,
“Bhaiya!”

Arnav hushed her immediately,
“Shhhh… avu, shor mat kar.”

He placed one gentle hand on the back of her head, guiding it softly to rest on his shoulder.

Her tiny head nestled perfectly in the crook of his neck, like it was made just for that spot.

Her little arms loosely circled around him. Her breathing steadied. Her body relaxed into his warmth.

Arnav tightened his hold a little protective, tender and turned to leave the room with her safe in his arms.

And with that, they started moving through the silent hallway, the night wrapping around them like the softest embrace.

As Arnav walked through the dim hallway, Avyuktha still curled against his shoulder, he paused outside Anvi’s room. He wanted to check on her, just to be sure she had settled down for the night. He pushed the door open quietly, careful not to wake her if she was asleep.

But the bed was empty.

A slight frown touched his face. He stepped inside, checked behind the curtains, peeked into the washroom, then the small balcony. Each place was silent. Empty. The unease in his chest nudged a little harder, but he kept his movements slow and calm, not wanting Avyuktha to sense his worry.

Thinking Anvi might be with Maan, he turned and walked to his room.

Inside, Maan was sitting with his laptop, typing softly. He looked up when Arnav entered.

“Maan… Anvi yaha hai kya?” Arnav asked in a low voice.

Maan shook his head. “Nahi, Bhaiya. Apne room mein hogi.”

Arnav’s tone tightened just a bit. “Nahi… waha nahi hai.”

The change in Maan’s face was instant. He closed the laptop and stood up, concern replacing the earlier calm. “Main terrace pe dekhta hoon,” he said quickly, knowing that the terrace was always Anvi’s hiding place when she felt overwhelmed. Without waiting for another word, he hurried upstairs.

Arnav remained in the hallway for a moment, holding Avyuktha close. He whispered something soothing into her hair before gently shifting her so he could walk. He checked the garden next, quiet under the night sky. Then the hall. The guest rooms. The theatre. Even the swimming area, where the water reflected the soft glow of the lamps.

But Anvi was nowhere.

The worry settled deeper now, soft but heavy.

Just then, Maan came down the stairs in a rush, breathing slightly fast. “Bhaiya… vo terrace pe bhi nahi hai,” he said, voice laced with worry. “Aur maine third floor bhi poora check kar liya. Waha bhi nahi hai.”

Arnav’s jaw tightened for a second. The house suddenly felt too quiet.

Avyuktha’s small fingers clutched his shirt. Even without words, she could feel something was wrong. Her anxious eyes looked up at him, waiting for reassurance.

Arnav cupped her cheek with gentle hands and spoke softly, “Avu… tu mere room mein jaa aur so ja, baccha. Main aata hoon thodi der mein.”

She looked uncertain, her head shaking just a little, but Arnav pressed a warm kiss to her forehead before setting her down gently.

He turned immediately to call security, his voice calm but firm. Maan stepped beside him, ready to move wherever needed.

And though she had been told to sleep, Avyuktha quietly followed behind them, her little footsteps soft, her heart heavy, unable to rest when her family felt unsettled.

Avyuktha, Maan, and Arnav were gathered in the hall, the air heavy with worry. Arnav had been pacing restlessly, his movements sharp and uneven, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. The security head stood nearby, helpless, unable to provide even a single clue. Anvi’s phone had been left behind in the house, making her completely untraceable. Not knowing where she had gone or how long she had been out gnawed at Arnav with every passing second.

It had already been an hour.

Just then, Mohit, one of the younger security guards, rushed inside, breathless. His words came out hurried, carrying the urgency Arnav had feared. Maan’s bike wasn’t in the garage. And although Abhimaan was at the mansion, his device showed a location that didn’t match his actual presence. Mohit also revealed that a message had come from Abhimaan’s phone earlier, asking him to move the bike outside.

Slowly, the truth began to unravel.
Maan and Mohit admitted that sometimes, when Abhimaan wanted to sneak out or simply ride for a while, Mohit would quietly take the bike out, and Maan would slip through the second exit. Abhimaan always kept his location on, making it safe, and Mohit could reach him easily if anything went wrong. So this time, after receiving the usual message, Mohit had followed the routine, unaware that something was different.

He hadn’t seen Abhimaan come to take the bike, but assumed plans must have shifted. It was only later, when he checked the bike’s location, that he realized it wasn’t where he had parked it. And in that moment, the pieces connected, Anvi had taken it.

Arnav’s face drained of color. His jaw tightened sharply, a storm building just beneath the surface. His eyes darkened, burning with a fury he didn’t bother to hide. The silence around him grew heavier, thicker, almost suffocating. Abhimaan and Mohit instinctively stepped back, as if distance could soften the intensity radiating from him.

Near the staircase, Avyuktha’s anxious eyes darted between Abhimaan and Arnav. The dread in her chest grew deeper, knowing all too well that both Abhimaan and Anvi had stumbled into serious trouble and Arnav was moments away from exploding.

Arnav’s shout tore through the hall, sharp enough to make everyone flinch.
His voice carried a tremor of fear beneath the rage as he demanded, “Kaha ki location bata rhi hai uski.”

Mohit’s hands shook slightly while showing the tracker. Anvi’s dot on the map was moving insanely fast...130 km/hr, the bike slicing through the late night roads as if she had no sense of danger.

Arnav’s stomach twisted.

He ordered in a low, dangerous voice for the security team to be alerted immediately. The head rushed out, barking instructions into his mic.

Then… the dot stopped.

Not moving.

Not shifting.

Not updating.

Five whole minutes.

Arnav’s chest tightened, every horrible possibility flashed before him. The silence in the hall grew suffocating.

He finally breathed out one line, the only thought in his head, “Mai waha jaa raha hoon.”

Maan stepped up instantly, guilt and worry written all over him. “Bhaiya mai bhi chalunga.”

Arnav didn’t trust himself to speak. He only gave him one sharp look before striding ahead.

And then his phone rang, unknown number.

He snatched it up. Maan, shaken, whispered for him to put it on speaker. Arnav did.

A rough voice came from the other end

Person: “ Ha ye Arnav Jaisingh se baat ho rhi hai kya.”

Arnav: “ Haa boliye.”

Person: “ Ji mai traffic control officer bol raha hoon... Ye apki behen Anvi yaha par hai... Overspeeding kr rhi thi, underage bhi hai na licence hai na kuch.”

Arnav’s jaw flexed. Relief hit him so hard his knees almost weakened but anger followed right behind it.

The officer continued scolding, each word stabbing Arnav’s already frayed nerves.

Person: “Aap yaha pe jaldi aaiye, mai inhe aise nhi jaane de skta... Aur kaise log hai aaplog ghar ki beti aadhi raat mai awaro ki tarah sadak pe ghoom rhi hai aur bhai baap ko pata hi nhi hai.”

Behind him, Anvi’s voice burst in, trembling but fierce,

Anvi: “Dekhiye aapko jo bolna hai hame boliye mere bhai ko kuch mat boliye.”

The officer snapped back immediately

Officer: “Aye ladki itni akad na apne bhai ko dikhana... Insaan acha hoon mai isliye jail mai nhi daal raha hoon...sochke ki underage hai, bacchi hai, case ban gya toh zindagi barbaad ho jayegi...Badnaami hogi vo alag... Jyada akad mat dikha mujhe.”

Arnav couldn’t take another second.

Arnav: “Sir mai aa raha hoon waha pe... Zara anvi ko phone de denge.”

Person: “Ha lijiye aur samjhaiye apni bacchi ko.”

A shaky breath, then

Anvi: “h.. hello...”

Arnav’s voice came out calm… too calm. The quiet before a storm.

Arnav: “Anvi you wouldnt say anything to that man and would stay there with the female Constable don't you dare to move.. I'm coming.”

Anvi: “ji ji bhaiya.”

She handed the phone back.

Arnav: “Sir waha pe lady constable hai aapke sath?.”

Officer: “Ha hai... Ladkiyo ko bina female constable ke pakadna allowed nhi hota... Aap ki behen unhi ke sath hai.. Aap jald se jald aaiye.”

Arnav cut the call and turned to Avyuktha. His entire expression softened instantly as he knelt down in front of her trembling figure.

He brushed her hair gently, voice warm even though his own hands were shaking.

Arnav: “Avu teri didi thik hai... Tu jaa room mai... Mai thodi der mai ata hoon... Tension mat lena.. Sb thik hai.”

He kissed her forehead tenderly, stood up, and walked out with Maan close behind him...silent, guilty, terrified.

Arnav gave one last instruction over his shoulder to the guards to lock the main door… and then the two brothers disappeared into the night.

By the time Arnav reached the location, the cold night air cut through him but what froze him more was the sight of Anvi.

She sat on a low concrete barrier, arms wrapped tightly around herself, trembling uncontrollably from the wind and the shock. Her eyes stayed glued to the ground, refusing to lift, refusing to face him.

The security team had already handled the necessary paperwork. The traffic control officer stood nearby, still muttering under his breath about responsibility and upbringing. Arnav listened silently, jaw clenched, heart heavy.

He didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t argue.
He didn’t explain.

When the officer finished, Arnav simply folded his hands slightly and thanked him, genuinely, sincerely, for not exploiting the situation. He knew exactly how wrong things could have gone. A young underage girl, alone at night, speeding on a superbike that clearly wasn’t hers… it could’ve turned into something horrific.

The officer had chosen decency. He even called a female constable to avoid any accusation or mishandling.

Arnav acknowledged that with quiet gratitude.

But Anvi…
She didn’t raise her head once.

Her shoulders shook with every breath.
Shame had swallowed her whole.

Without a word, Arnav shrugged off his coat and draped it around her. She flinched slightly at the warmth, then froze, afraid to even look up.

He didn’t scold.
He didn’t comfort.
Not yet.

He simply placed a hand on her back, guiding her gently, gently towards the car.

Maan followed behind them, silent, guilt crawling all over him.

Inside, Arnav opened the rear door without speaking. Both Anvi and Maan got in quietly, almost hesitantly, as if afraid he’d change his mind or lash out.

He shut the door, walked around, and got into the driver’s seat.

Not once did he tell them to sit in the front.

Not once did he look back.

He only gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles went completely white, the leather creaking under the pressure. His face held every emotion he hadn’t allowed himself to show out loud, anger, fear, frustration, and a deep, bone crushing hurt.

Behind him, in the dimness of the backseat, Anvi and Maan sat stiff and silent. Their eyes kept darting to his reflection in the rearview mirror, only to immediately look away again. Neither dared speak. Neither dared breathe too loud.

The only sound in the car was Arnav’s harsh, controlled breathing… and the quiet, trembling breaths of the two siblings who knew they had crossed a line they never should have.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the mansion, the headlights cutting through the quiet night for a moment before Arnav switched them off.

Anvi felt her heart hammering painfully against her ribs. Her fingers clutched the coat he had wrapped around her, knuckles pale, breath unsteady. The silence inside the car felt heavier than anything she could have imagined.

Arnav didn’t look back.
Didn’t wait.
Didn’t speak.

He just pushed the door open and stepped out. The moment he shut it, the door slammed with a sharp thud that echoed through the stillness of the night, making Anvi jump, Maan flinch, and even the guard standing nearby straighten nervously.

Arnav handed the car keys to the guard to park it, his face unreadable, and walked into the house without a glance in their direction.

Inside the car, for a second, everything stayed frozen.

Then, without warning, Maan turned to Anvi, eyes wide with panic and anger. His hand came down sharply on her shoulder, the sound loud in the enclosed space.

She gasped at the sudden sting.

“Pagal ho gayi thi tum?!” he burst out, voice loud, trembling, and thick with fear. “Dimag kharab ho gaya tha?! Aadhi raat ko bike lekar bhaag gayi?! 130 ki speed pe?!”

His words tumbled out in one breath, raw and shaken, and Anvi sat there silently, shoulders curling in, eyes filling up, unable to lift her gaze.

Anvi couldn’t stop crying. Her breath kept catching in her throat, tears falling silently as she stared at her hands.

Maan watched her for a second, his jaw tight, fear still clawing at his chest. Then suddenly, he snapped. He reached over and smacked her shoulder hard.

“Kya karne gyi thi?!”

Anvi gasped, her body jerking at the sting.

But Maan didn’t stop. His fear had turned into anger, and it was spilling out relentlessly.

He smacked her again.
“Kuch ho jaata...” whack “toh kya karte hum?!”

Another hit, each harder than the last one whack. whack. whack.

“Aahhh…” Anvi cried, grabbing her shoulder, trying to shield it from the next blow.

But Maan was shaking, not from rage, but from the terror he’d felt the whole night.

Anvi sobbed, “Sorry bhaiyu, I’m sorry…”

Instead of calming, Maan hit her again, voice cracking.

“SORRY” whack  “SORRY” whack “Tujhe idea bhi hai kya ho skta tha aaj?!” whack
“Kitna dar gye the hum sb log?!” whack

Anvi pressed herself into the corner of the seat, shoulder burning, tears streaming as she rubbed the ache with trembling fingers. She looked at Maan with watery, pleading eyes.

Maan finally let out a sharp, shaky breath. He grabbed the bottle in the car and drank several gulps, trying to calm down. His chest rose and fell fast as he forced himself to breathe, to think.

When he looked at Anvi again, she looked so small… so scared… her face buried in her hands, her body curled in like she was trying to disappear.

All the anger drained out of him.

He moved closer, slowly this time, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
The moment he did, Anvi broke completely.

She clutched his shirt with both hands and cried into him, voice shaking uncontrollably.

“Bhaiyu I’m really sorry… sorry… Mujhe kuch smjh nhi aa raha tha bhaiyu… mujhe bahot ghutan ho rhi thi… isliye… bina soche samjhe… sorry bhaiyu I’m really sorry… please aap toh maaf kr do…”

She hiccuped through the words, breath trembling. “Sb mujhse naraz hai… Mujhse nhi bardash ho raha bhaiyu… Bhaiya toh dekh bhi nhi rhe meri taraf… vo mujhse kabhi baat nhi karenge bhaiyu… I hurt him…”

Her voice cracked, breaking into another sob. “Please aap mat gussa ho… sorry bhaiyu… I’m really sorry…”

Maan felt his chest tighten painfully. He knew she wasn’t lying, she had been bearing everyone’s anger for days. Every raised voice made her flinch, every silence made her crumble. And Arnav… not looking at her even once tonight… it had shattered her.

He sighed softly and pulled her closer, rubbing her back in slow circles, fingers comforting. “Bss baccha… aur kitna royegi… mai nhi hoon gussa… shant ho jaa…”

Little by little, Anvi’s crying softened. Her breathing steadied. Her body relaxed against him.

After a while, Maan picked up the bottle, held it to her mouth gently.

“Paani pi le.”

Anvi took small sips, still hiccuping, her eyes swollen but calmer.

Anvi’s breath hitched painfully, hiccups shaking through her small frame as tears blurred her vision. Her voice came out loud and broken, every word tumbling out between gasps.

“Bha–(hiccup) bhaiya (sob) mujhse kabhi baat (sob) n.. nahi (sob) karenge na (sob)…”

The desperation in her tone made Maan’s chest tighten. He shifted closer, his voice dropping to a gentle, steady murmur meant to anchor her spiraling fear.

“Aisa nhi hai Chutki… Bhaiya gussa hai bss… Maan jayenge…”

But Anvi shook her head hard, curls bouncing, hiccups getting sharper.

“Nhi (hiccup)… nhi manenge vo bhaiyu… (hiccup) bahot gussa hai vo (sob)… Unhone ek baar kuch bola bhi nhi…”

Her voice cracked, and the moment she said it, another wave of hiccups tore out of her, louder, making her struggle for breath.

Maan immediately reached for the bottle on the seat, uncapping it with quick hands before guiding it toward her trembling ones.

“Pehle paani pi thoda… Aur shant ho, phir bol jo bolna hai.”

His tone was soft but firm, trying to soothe her while she gasped for air, her tiny shoulders shuddering with each hiccup as fear, guilt, and exhaustion tangled inside her.

Her hiccups slowly eased, settling into softer tremors, but the hurt in her voice only grew sharper. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and whispered through trembling lips,

“Bhaiya kuch bina bole andar chale gye, bhaiyu… Unhone kabhi aisa nhi kiya… Hamesha daat ke, maar ke samjha dete the… Lekin ab vo mujhse baat bhi nhi kr rhe…”

The thought alone broke her, and she cried harder, shoulders shaking.

“I hurt him, bhaiyu… I hurt him so much that he took a step back from me…”

Tears streamed down her face, unstoppable. Maan watched helplessly, his own chest tightening because he didn’t know what to say that would ease that fear. He had never seen Anvi crumble like this.

But she kept going, voice cracking with every plea.

“Bhaiya ko bolo na, bhaiyu… jitna daatana hai daat le… jitna marna hai maar le… koi bhi punishment de de… lekin please unse bolo na… mujhe akele nhi chode bhaiyu… Please bhaiyu bolo na unse… Please…”

She clutched Maan’s hand with both of hers, as if holding on for life, and his heart split at the sight. The desperation in her grip, the raw fear in her eyes, Maan had never seen her beg like this.

Then her voice dropped to a shaking whisper, breaking under the weight of her fear. “Bhaiya mujhe chhod denge toh anath ho jaungi main, bhaiyu… Please unse bolo na aap… Please…”

That tore something inside him.

Without thinking twice, Maan pulled her into a tight hug, holding her small trembling frame close as she sobbed into his chest.

“Aisa nhi bolte, Chutki… Bhaiya gussa hai bas… Vo maan jayenge… Darr gye the vo bahot zyada… isliye gussa hai vo baccga… He won’t step back from you, baccha… He never would…”

Anvi pulled back from the hug so suddenly that Maan’s hands hovered uselessly in the air. Her voice cracked, frustration bubbling right through her tears.

“Unhone mara nahi mujhe…”

Maan’s expression tightened immediately, like she’d just spoken in a language he didn’t recognize.

“Tujhe… maar khaani hai?” he asked slowly, eyebrows climbing.

“Haan,” Anvi answered without a second’s hesitation, voice trembling but firm.“I know meri harkatein waisi hi hoti hain ki main maar khaun… I get it. Lekin bhaiya… vo toh chale gaye andar shanti se. Ho kya gaya unhe? Mere purane wale bhaiya toh abhi tak laal-peela kar dete… ya lecture de ke kaan se khoon nikal dete…”

She wiped her tears so aggressively it only made her face redder. Her anger and fear were tangled into one big mess.

Maan stared at her like she’d grown a second head. The disbelief on his face was almost comical.

Then a slow, horrifying thought crawled into his mind.

Abhi toh iske kandhe pe mara tha… kahin dimaag pe asar toh nahi pad gaya…

His eyes widened in alarm.

“Ek minute,” he muttered, scooting closer.

Before Anvi could react, he grabbed her shoulder gently but firmly, tilting her head like he was checking for dents.

“Chutki… tujhe apna poora naam yaad hai? Ya mera? Aaj ki date kya hai? Hum sab kahan rehte hain? Zara batana,” he rattled off, voice filled with genuine worry.

Anvi slapped his hand away, her irritation flaring.“Kya kar rahe ho bhaiyu? Pagal ho gaye ho kya?”

“Pagal main nahi,” Maan shot back immediately, throwing his hands in the air. “Tu ho gayi hai.... Lagta hai MRI karwana padega.” He muttered it under his breath like he was genuinely calculating hospital timings.

Then, with full big brother seriousness, he leaned in closer, squinting at her face like a doctor checking symptoms. His fingers even snapped once in front of her eyes.

He looked at her with actual concern now, eyes narrowed, trying to see if her pupils were still the same size. “Kahin concussion toh nahi ho gaya…?” he whispered to himself, horrified at the possibility he might have caused it.

Then, louder, “Tujhe bhaiya se maar khaani hai... woh bhi jaan bujh kar?”

Anvi, unbelievably, nodded again.

Maan froze.

For a whole second, he looked at her as if she had single handedly broken science, logic, physics, and his will to live. His jaw dropped, his soul briefly left his body and came back.

“BUDDHI-HEEN.”

Anvi blinked. “What?”

Maan sighed...long, suffering, pain filled and then glared at her like she was the greatest disappointment of his life.

With exaggerated shock he declared,
“Buddhiheen hai tu… Chutki Buddhiheen!.....Hanuman Chalisa padha kar!”

Before Anvi could even snap back, he suddenly straightened his spine, folded his hands with the seriousness of a 90-year-old pandit, eyes lifted dramatically to the car roof top.

“Dhyaan se sunn,” he commanded.

Then, with full devotional bhaav and absolutely zero shame, he began teaching her like she was a tiny kindergarten kid,

“Buddhiheen tanu jaanike,
sumiro Pawan Kumar…
Bal BUDDHI vidya dehu mohe,
harahu kalesh vikaar…”

Each line he said slowly, pointing at her on “BUDDHI,” tapping his own temple on “vidya,” and dramatically waving away imaginary “kalesh” around her head.

Anvi stared at him like he’d officially lost it.

But Maan just finished the verse, bowed his head like a true devotee, and said with tragic seriousness, “Bas. Roz teen baar. Kyuki jo halat teri chal rahi hai na… Pawan Putra hi bacha sakte hai tujhe ab.”

Anvi glared at him through her tears, eyes sharp, chin trembling, whole body shaking with hurt.

“Bakwass karwa lo aapse bas,” she snapped, voice cracking halfway.

But the anger didn’t even last a full second.

It collapsed...hard, messy, into pure misery.

“Mujhe khaani hai maar… harkatein hi meri waisi hain....I know,” she said frustrated, like she was reading out her own faults from a list. “I deserve that… lekin vo… AAPKE BHAIYA… vo toh chale gaye seedhe andar.”

Her voice rose again, frustration spilling out, “Arey galti hui hai… maar lo, daat lo, samjha do… lekin nahi. Silent treatment. Ye kaisa tareeka hua? Ki insaan guilt mein ghut ke mar jaye.”

Silence dropped between them...thick, suffocating, almost painful.

Maan watched her chest stutter with every shaky breath, watched her fingers twist in her T-shirt.

Then, in a tiny cracked whisper that sliced straight through the air, Anvi said,

“Bhaiya maarenge toh at least mujhe aisa nahi lagega… that he’s taking a step back from me…”

For a moment, Maan actually softened.

Actually.

Then he inhaled deeply, put both palms together like a priest about to bless a devotee, and declared with all the dramatic tragedy he possessed

“Tathastu, putri…Hanuman ji kare bhaiya tujhe khoob pite..”

Anvi choked on a sob laugh.

And the very second the blessed, cursed words left Maan’s mouth,

THUD.

The car door swung open so violently it slapped the wind.

Both of them jerked like criminals caught mid crime.

Arnav stood there.

Furious.

Blazing.

The kind of anger that could roast marshmallows without a fire.

His voice boomed like a wrathful judge delivering a sentence:

“RAAT BHAR CAR MEIN HI BAITHNA HAI? .....CHALO ANDAR.”

Maan’s soul left his body and booked one way ticket to kedarnath.

Arnav didn’t even blink before issuing the next order, sharp enough to cut steel

“AND MEET ME IN MY STUDY IN 10 MINUTES.”

Maan internally began chanting every prayer he had ever known.

Then Arnav’s gaze slid to Anvi.

Deadly slow.

Deadly precise.

“Pehle jaake Avu se milo.”

Anvi gulped.

“Dari hui hai vo. Raat bhar tera intezaar kar rahi hai.”

He didn’t wait for replies, excuses, or confessions.

Just turned on his heel and strode inside, coat flaring behind him like a warning sign, leaving the two of them frozen in the car

Maan, calculating how many lifetimes he’d need to recover from this.

And the moment Arnav disappeared into the house, the door clicking shut behind him, Maan let out a slow breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. The air felt too still, too heavy, and he rubbed his palms on his jeans like he was trying to wake himself up.

Then, with a intense glare at the sky, he muttered, “Hanuman ji… aaj tak itni jaldi toh koi ichha poori nahi ki aapne… ha? Ye wali itni jaldi sun li.”

He actually squinted upward as if expecting an answer. Nothing happened, which somehow irritated him more.

Before he could complain again, Anvi suddenly pressed both her palms together. Her eyes widened with desperate devotion, and she looked up at the sky like she had finally remembered her spiritual roots.

“Hanuman ji, please bacha lo aaj… please Hanuman ji,” she whispered, shaking her head earnestly.

And then, because panic brings out everyone’s inner bhakt...she started chanting softly under her breath,

“Kaaj kiye badd devan ke, tum veer mahaprabhu dekhi vichaaro…
Kaun so sankat mor gareeb ko, jo tumse nahi jaat hai taaro…”

She placed her folded hands to her forehead, bowed slightly, and murmured one more line, almost pleading,

“Begi haro Hanuman Mahaprabhu, jo kachu sankat hoy hamaro…”

Maan stared at her for a full three seconds, completely stunned.

Then he looked up again.

“Hanuman ji… exact same. Same to same jo isne bola.”

He turned sharply to Anvi. “Sahi bola na tune?”

“Ha, ha, sahi bola,” she nodded quickly, wiping her face with her sleeve.

“Good,” he muttered, still staring at the sky like he was negotiating divine terms.

Anvi adjusted her clothes, took a deep breath, and whispered, “Chalo… ab andar chalte hain bhaiyu... Nahi toh Jai Shree Ram ki jagah Ram naam satya hai ho jayega.”

Maan blinked at her, horrified.

Together, very quietly, very carefully, they walked toward the house, two freshly awakened devotees hoping divine intervention would save them from the study waiting inside.

___________________________________________

Thank you so much for reading, loves!

Before you go, I have a few questions for you and I want full spam in the comments, okay?

1. Whose reaction did you enjoy the most this chapter...Arnav, Anvi, or Maan? And why?

2. Your favourite dialogue? Drop it, I’m ready to blush.

3. Are you Team Sympathy for Anvi or Team Angry Arnav today?

4. Funniest moment for you? I know you laughed somewhere.

5. What kind of Arnav do you want next...gentle & calm or fiery & angry?

6. Which Arnav owns your heart...protective softie or raging lion?

❤ AUTHOR'S NOTE ❤

Okay listen… I know I uploaded this chapter before completing the previous chapter's target but kya karu, I got too excited and couldn’t stop myself. 🫣
I wrote it with so much love, so consider this a tiny gift from me to you.

And now… your turn!
Drop lots of cute comments as my return gift.

Little deal:
If the target fills up quickly, I’ll upload the next chapter today itself (yes, it’s already ready).
So come on, make me smile!