Our fate🌻🌼

Chapter 14: The accident

"BHAI!!!!!"

Iraa's voice echoed as her heart raced, each beat a thunderous roar in her chest as she rushed towards Karan.

Vedang followed close behind, his eyes filled with concern.

"Dad! Are you okay?What happened?" Vedang asked helping his dad who was holding Karan.

"Bhai?!" Iraa's voice trembled as they reached the living room, her eyes frantically scanning her brother.

On the couch, Karan laid unconscious, a cut on his forehead oozing blood. His face was pale, but his chest rose and fell steadily.

Vedang quickly moved to his side, pressing a clean cloth against the wound to stop the bleeding.

"hum wapas aa rahe the tabh, a strong snow storm came and a parked car lost its grip. Our car hit the tree" Ram said.

"Oh my god, Uncle are you fine?" Iraa asked her eyes filled with tears,checking if he was hurt. "I'm fine beta don't worry check on your brother" He said patting her head.

"Where's everyone else?" Ram asked and Vedang told him they went out. Ram got worried because of the snow storm coming soon. No one picked up their phone.

"Veda I'll go to the-" "Dad no! it's risky!" Vedang shouted. "It's not Vedang! The storm hasn't arrived here yet I'll go..they need to be informed..I'll call you okay don't worry!" He said and they both agreed.

Iraa stood beside him her hands trembling.

"Iraa, calm down. He's going to be okay," Vedang said, his voice steady despite the worry in his eyes. He knew he had to be the pillar of strength for Iraa right now.

"Kaise calm down karu, Vedang? He looks so... ," Iraa's voice broke, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the couch. Memories of another time, another accident, flooded her mind.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay," Vedang whispered, his hand gently guiding her to sit down. "We need to clean this up until the doctor comes. Go get the first aid kit."

Iraa nodded mechanically, her body moving on autopilot as she went to fetch the kit.

The scene in front of her blurred as her vision clouded with tears. She found the kit and hurried back, kneeling beside her brother.

"Here," she handed Vedang the kit, her fingers brushing against his. The touch, though brief, sent a spark through her, grounding her momentarily.

Vedang carefully cleaned the wound, his hands steady.

Soon the doctor came and went to check him.

"It doesn't look too deep. He probably has a concussion, but he'll be fine," the doctor said amd they nodded.

Vedang glanced at Iraa, noticing her tear-streaked face. "Tum theek ho?"

Iraa shook her head, her voice a whisper. "I'm worried, what if he's not fine?"

"He is fine," Vedang said firmly. "Karan is strong. He'll pull through this. Remember the time when he fell off his cycle? He got right back up, stronger than ever."

Iraa tried to smile through her tears. "So you were the one with him?" Vedang nodded embarrassed. "But it's different"

Vedang paused, sensing there was more to her fear. "What do you mean?"

Iraa took a deep breath, the childhood memory she had buried for so long resurfacing.

"I was nine years old, and Karan was 11. I found out something that everyone had hid from me, I got upset...

....bhai brought me a keychain but I was angry and threw it away too hard. It went onto the road through my window. He ran after it without thinking. A car came out of nowhere and hit him."

Vedang listened intently, his heart aching for the younger version of Iraa who had experienced such trauma. "I remember that day. We were all so scared."

Iraa nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "He was in the hospital for weeks. I blamed myself for years.

I thought I had lost him because of my stupid mistake. Every time he gets hurt, it brings back those memories."

Vedang placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Iraa, it wasn't your fault then, and it's not your fault now. Karan is strong because he has you. You're his strength."

Iraa looked at Vedang, her eyes searching his. "Why are you always so... composed? How do you stay so strong?"

Vedang smiled gently. "Maybe because I have a reason to be. Maybe because I care about both of you more than anything right now"

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the chaos around them faded. The space between them seemed to shrink, and Iraa felt a warmth spreading through her chest.

She had known Vedang as just her bestfriend's brother, the dependable one. But in that moment, she saw a depth in him she hadn't noticed before.

Just then, Karan stirred, a groan escaping his lips. Iraa immediately turned her attention back to him.

"Bhai! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.