Ajnabi, The Unknown

19- Boundaries of Pain

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Kabir was in deep turmoil.

He didn't know if he should wait for Adhir to wake up and then ask him to come home with them and have something warm and take some rest, or if he should simply carry him to the car and drive him home.

When Adhir didn't move an inch for the next twenty-five minutes, Kabir decided to take him home. The sun was setting and Kabir knew Manthan and Hardik would be worried sick for both of them.

Kabir carefully wrapped one of his arms under Adhir's knees and pulled him up, tossing the keys at Nikhil, who opened the car, allowing Kabir to gently place Adhir on the back seat before closing the door.

"Adhir Bhai ki behen, Baba?" Nikhil asked, sitting beside Adhir, and Kabir sighed, shaking his head.

"I don't have her number, Nikhil. Let Adhir wake up, he will inform his sister." Kabir said, and Nikhil hummed in answer.

As Kabir started to drive, Adhir shifted on Nikhil's lap, and a warm feeling engulfed him. Nikhil felt a sense of protectiveness for Adhir. He gently caressed Adhir's hair and let out a sigh.

"How will Hari bhai react to the news, baba?" Nikhil couldn't help but ask and Kabir sighed, shaking his head.

He had no idea.

Adhir was his best friend, and the mere thought of your best-friend ready to take their life is painful, horrifying, and not pleasant.

"We will be fine, Nikhil. It might take time. But everyone will be fine." Kabir assured, and Nikhil nodded his head.

If Kabir said, they will be fine, then they will be fine.

He believed in Kabir. There was no one else Nikhil can ever trust with pain, as much as he trusts Kabir, Kabir has always dealt with pain and loneliness. He knew Kabir always chose the hardest road to walk on.

Kabir believed in turning a barren land into a beautiful grassland, if not an entire forest, full of life and beauty.

Manthan and Hardik froze when they saw Adhir in Kabir's embrace, walking inside their house. They had no idea what had happened. But Manthan saw distress in Kabir's eyes and knew something..... something was not right, if not everything.

"Adhir, baba. Kya hua Adhir ko?" Hardik asked, and Kabir sighed, it would be hardest to reveal the truth to Hardik. Kabir knew.

Kabir looked at Hardik briefly, his eyes boring into his child's eyes before he nodded his head, his warm eyes assuring him that Adhir was alright, which he definitely was not, but his eyes also promised to set everything alright.

"Mujhe tum logo se kuch baat karni hai. But first, he needs rest, beta." Kabir said, and the boys nodded his head.

As Kabir went up to his room, deciding to lend his room to Adhir for the night, Nikhil silently, quietly walked towards Manthan, and wrapped his arms around Manthan, taking him by surprise.

"Nikki, tu theek hai, baccha?" Manthan asked worriedly, and Nikhil blinked his eyes, moisture returning to his eyes as he shook his head.

He was shaken up badly.

He had been trying to be strong for so long, he had been pretending to be cool in front of Adhir, so that he doesn't panic, but now that Adhir was deep asleep, and was up with Kabir, and he was back to the comfort of his home, he could no longer be strong.