Species Of Life

43 A Brother's Embrace 🌙(Updated)

At the hilltop, beneath the silent stars, Sid and Avi sat quietly on the bonnet of their car, the cool breeze brushing past them, but neither of them noticed. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was heavy. Laden with unspoken thoughts.

Avi broke it first. "Sid..."

He murmured a response, "Hmm..."

She hesitated. "Will you forgive Jannat?"

Sid didn't look at her. "I was never upset with her," he replied, voice calm but distant. "So there's no question of forgiveness."

"Means... you'll mend your relationship with her, right?" Avi asked, searching his face.

But Sid remained quiet. The silence that followed screamed louder than words.

Avi's voice cracked a little. "Love, what's going on inside you? Please... tell me."

Taking a long, deep breath, Sid finally spoke. "Avi, If one has to give in to save a relationship, then one should give in. But if I'm always the one who has to bend... maybe I need to understand that there's nothing left in that relationship except pain."

She looked at him, stunned. "Sid, what are you saying? You're really going to break your relationship with Jannat?"

He looked away. "She hasn't left me with any other choice."

Avi's voice rose, laced with anger and desperation. "Sid, If you are forgetting, let me remind you—you both are twins! You came from your mother's womb together."

Tears welled up in Sid's eyes as he turned to her and gently held her hands. "Then you tell me, Avi. What should I do? Keep swallowing this pain like I have all these years? Pretend to be strong every single day, even when I'm breaking inside? I'm tired. I'm just... tired now."

Avi cupped his face, her heart aching. "Sid, I can understand what you're going through. But think once. If you break this bond, it's not just about you and her. Mom and Dad will be forced to choose between their children. Bhai will have to choose between his brother and his sister. Faisu will be torn between his best friend and his love."

Sid turned away again, jaw clenched. He had no words.

Avi rested her head on his shoulder. "Ten years ago, when Jannat left you all, she had no one. She hated you, and yet, you never left her side. You protected her. You did everything to keep her from crying—even when she blamed you. And now, when she finally knows the truth, you're walking away?"

Her words struck something deep within him. They slowly started undoing the knots he had buried in his heart.

"And remember," she whispered, "you told me you won't let Shekhar win this time. But by breaking your bond with Jannat, aren't you helping him do exactly that?"

Sid looked at her, stunned. She was right. Completely right. Yet his lips refused to move. His silence spoke of the storm inside.

After a while, he simply said, "Let's go home."

Avi nodded. As they climbed down, Sid walked towards the driver's seat, but Avi stopped him.

"You're not well," she said gently. "Please. Give me the keys. I'll drive."

He didn't argue. He handed her the keys silently and moved toward the passenger seat.

At the same time, under the moonlit sky, Abhi stood on the balcony, staring blankly at the glowing orb above. The silence around him was different—it wasn't peaceful. It was aching. Vaish quietly walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, but when he didn't respond, she stepped beside him.