A Broken Bond; Brothers

Aisha

Dev's POV

Huffs and turns putting down the things from the stall we were looking at when that girl pokes me for the 4th time. "What do you want??" I ask glaring a little. Nakul is beside me and I can practically feel him roll his eyes.

"Karn bhaiya said I need to apologize..." she mumbles clearly not wanting to be here.

"And?" I say with a slightly petty smile.

She presses her lips together annoyed, kinda narrowing her eyes "Why're you so grumpy?? What's your problem? I bumped into him but he said it was ok!"

"I'm not-"

"Yes yes! I know you're gonna say you're not grumpy but you are! You're grumpy and you're mean! I came to apologize and still, you're acting like I committed a crime!" She pouts and looks like she's about to cry.

My anger kinda vanishes fading into pure confusion... why is she crying? "Wait- wait why are you crying?" Kinda concerned and she just sniffles

I look at Nakul who looks right back at me with the same expression on our faces. "Hey uh... Look you don't need to apologize just leave it. Please just... don't cry..." I say not sure what to do as tears begin running down the girl's face.

"Dev apologize," Nakul says nudging me. Looking just as concerned and confused.

"But-"

"She's crying dev! Apologize!" He whispers frantically but before I can say anything Vrushali comes and grabs the girl's ear twisting it.

"You started with your fake crying again??" Vrushali says raising her eyebrow a little.

Fake crying? Then I notice it, while there are tears rolling down her cheeks as soon as she jumps up trying to pull away it's clear she wasn't crying, to begin with.

I Narrow my eyes glaring at the girl now. I glance at Nakul and I notice the edges of his lips curl up... smiling. Why in gods name is he smiling??

Nakul's POV

I can't help but smile seeing Aisha's little trick. It reminds me of us when we were in the forest. I couldn't count the number of times Dev had pulled tricks like this. He always used being the youngest to get away with anything and we always let him.

I look at Dev who's looking at me shocked and clearly annoyed. I grab his hand wincing a little at the sting on my shoulder making a bitterness rise in my chest but I ignore it. I can't be bitter about this forever. This was worth it. Dev would be worth it even if I had lost my arm entirely. I pull him with me not losing the smile seeing his pout.

"Dev and I are just gonna walk around here," I say over my shoulder not sure if they heard but I don't stop.

We spend the rest of the time wandering the market, not going too far but we don't need to. The Main Street has hundreds of stalls and small stores, Dev runs into a book store and I laugh as I have to pull him out. I feel free like this, like maybe so much hasn't changed. The only reminder of our future is the constant ache in my shoulder.

We decide to go home when it's almost sunset but I feel like today was a day I will remember fondly.

"You didn't want to buy anything?" Vrushali asks as she carries the bag of things Aisha got. Karn catches up to us with Shon right behind him and takes the bag.

"No we didn't need to," I say, it won't make sense for us to spend their money. Not unnecessarily when they've already done so much for us.

The conversation ends there and when we get home we're welcomed with the delicious aroma of freshly cooked curry and roti. Everyone sits down on the mat laid out on the floor with the food in the middle and serves themselves. I try to as well but dev ends up helping me because of my arm, I try not to show the pain but when he catches my eyes it's clear he sees it.

I shake my head just wanting today to go normally.

"Ma sent this food, and she sent a note," Karn says smiling.

We all turn to look at him, "Both of my parents are coming tomorrow. With the adoption papers and to see you two." He says and Dev and I immediately look at each other.

Adoption papers... I can see the nervousness in Deva's eyes but I hold his hand trying to keep him calm. Before we can say anything though Shon gets up abruptly and leaves.

Karn sighs, "Don't worry about him. He can be a kid sometimes he'll come around. The two of you just eat and relax. Get some sleep ok? Tomorrow is a big day. But don't worry nothing will be rushed," he says patting my cheek.

He goes to check on Shon and we continue eating. Once we eat Dev and I head to the room with my bed and he sits on the stool beside it. I'm just thankful he's not already pacing the floor and panicking.

"Does it have to happen so soon? I mean it hasn't even been that long since we got here..." Dev says kinda fidgeting as I sit down on the bed.

"I don't know dev. But we need to figure things out sooner or later right... maybe now isn't so bad,"  I say, there's really not much else for me to say. We don't have a lot of options.

Dev sighs and sits beside me hugging me tight and I hug him back.

"Hey, regardless of what happens we'll still have each other and I told you already. Worst comes to worst we'll run," I say pecking the top of his head.

Deva's POV

The anxiety about tomorrow eats at me as Nakul and I get ready for bed. Vrushali comes to change his bandages and the medicine that'll probably make him sleepy. He lays down leaving enough space on the small bed for me to sleep too as she leaves.

I just put my hand on his, not hugging him or anything for the sake of his arm. Soon the sound of his calm and even breathing fills the room and I'm left to think exactly what will happen tomorrow...

I don't know when sleep takes me but I'm awoken to the sound of Vaidya ji checking on Nakul who's already awake. Rubs my eyes a little and sits up.

"Finally awake I see," Vaidya ji says with a bright smile.

"Your arm is looking a lot better kid. It won't be long before we can remove the bandage entirely," he says ruffling Nakul's hair.

"That's great! And just in time for the Ganesh puja!" Karns mom says coming to the door.

How long did I sleep? I think to myself yawning again. I look back at the door and notice for the first time the man standing behind Karns mom... my heart sinks seeing the man. Any sleepiness I felt vanishes in an instant, fear filling my chest.

I do not know who he is, he may be Karns dad or whoever but the thing that makes my heart drop to the pit of my stomach is the fact that this man knows Mahamahim Bheesm. We had seen him in the palace countless times. I look at Nakul but he hasn't noticed the man yet.

"Pranipat Kaki shree," Nakul says politely, a small smile on his face but it falls when his eyes land on the man. He recognizes him too.

"This is my husband Adhirath," She says smiling as the man steps forward and looks at us. We look at each other the same fear in our eyes.

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Hey guys! I'm finally updating this book I know its been forever! 😅

I'm sorry for making you wait so so so long! But another update should come this week so don't worry <3

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