Love Letters

{~}

Ayaan unfolded the paper, putting it back under the musty book. His eyes darted to the room he hadn't entered for the past year. He had kept part of his life locked behind its wall. His feet carried him toward the huge portrait, staring back at him. A figure which was more like his reflection. The same black orbs had mischief radiating from them, unlike Ayaan's stern orbs. His lip was forming a smirk.

Ayaan stared at his younger brother with a hint of a grimace. He wasn't able to forgive himself after that dreadful event. He was still unknown to the fact that what had happened on that night. Why had his brother ended up in that forest? He didn't have the courage to ask for an investigation because he feared the truth. He never trusted his brother's deed. Ayaan had dealt with enough mischief, he had spent his growing periods covering up for Karthik's deeds.

He was frightened to come across a truth that would end him up hating his own blood. Shona! He had heard that name rolling out of Karthik's mouth in his drunken state and had also discovered that he was playing with an innocent heart. Ayaan had warned him but Karthik as always never listened to his big brother's advice. Ayaan got busy dealing with his own worries until he heard the news of Karthik was on the verge of dying.

He had reached the hospital, he had glanced at Karthik's dead body and for the first time, he had glanced at Shona. He could remember that day so clearly in his mind. The way she had rushed to him, her clothes were soaked in blood and her eyes filled with tears as she had wrapped her arms around him and expressed how much she was worried about him. That hug had done something to him. That small gesture of hers had made him feel some unknown thing maybe because it was decades back someone had shown that level of care for him. Someone cared about him!

"I miss you, bro..." Ayaan muttered softly staring at the portrait. "I wish I could have been a better brother maybe that would have kept you alive." A drop of tear rolled down his cheek. "I met her and as I had imagined she deserved better." He turned from Karthik's portrait, "she stared at me in horror... you have broken her brother," he sighed staring at the book. The book had the rest of the letters. "The minute I discovered those letters in her purse, I realized it was she but... but never had imagined she would be hating you so much? What did you do, Karthik? What did you do to make her hate you so much? She had started liking you and maybe you as well..."

His cell rang bringing him back to the present. He wanted to ignore the calls but the minute his eyes locked on the phone screen. He sighed receiving the call. "What?" He groaned, sounding frustrated.

"She is screaming about Karthik. She wants to meet you. She is getting out of my control."

Ayaan was stunned listening to her words. He had anticipated Suhana would shout at him for turning her patient's condition worse not asking him to visit her.

"Won't she have a panic attack on glimpsing at me?"

"I guess... only your glimpse can calm her down." Those words made Ayaan stare at Karthik's portrait with thousands of questions troubling his mind.