Abhimanyu gently pulled Arnav into a protective embrace, wrapping his arms securely around him as though shielding him from the weight of the entire world. One hand instinctively cradled the back of Arnav's head, his fingers threading softly through his hair, while the other held him firmly against his chest, silently reminding him that he didn't have to carry everything alone.

The warmth of that familiar embrace slowly dissolved the walls Arnav had been holding up for so long. His rigid shoulders gradually relaxed, and his eyes slipped shut as he let out a quiet breath he hadn't even realized he had been holding onto. Without saying a word, he rested his face against Abhimanyu's shoulder, allowing himself, for the first time in what felt like forever, to simply be someone's younger brother instead of the one who always had to stay strong.