Abhimaan OS: Half Truths and Broken Ties

ONE SHOT

Note before you read: Abhira is Abhimanyu and Akshara’s daughter (Gen 3 Abhira)

Abhir and Abhimanyu had been assumed dead after a landslide that happened four years ago. According to my story,  a few months after Abhimaan's marriage,  Abhira finds Abhir and Abhimanyu and they reconnect. (Hows and wheres and when have not been explained in the story. If you want. I'll write another One shot detailing the meeting)

Roohi doesn't come back in this one. Abhira finds Rohit in the car.

***

“Tum mere bhai nahi ho!” Rohit bellowed, his hurt, anger, misplaced as it was, shon through his glassy eyes. He pushed himself off the bed, unsteady on his feet, his eyes trained on his older brother’s. Unblinking, furious.

Armaan’s eyes widened, half in shock and half in concern. Rohit had woken up after being unconscious for almost 36 hours. The doctors were sure that there was nothing wrong with him, except for a few bruises he had sustained in that accident, as long as he didn't stress himself out too much but the big brother instinct pushed Armaan to make sure Rohit was okay.

Armaan, despite his survival instinct, pushing him not to, stepped towards his baby brother, hands outstretched, gaze gentle. “Rohit.. Tu theek hai na beta?” Because he was the kid, he was the child— like the rest of his siblings. The chorus gang! They were his favorite people in the world, but it seemed as if sometimes, he wasn’t theirs. 

Rohit’s eyes flared with an emotion that Armaan couldn’t place with him. Such intense hatred didn’t belong with Rohit. It just didn’t. Rohit pushed him away forcefully, and the sheer anger in the action made Armaan stumble in his step, surprised.

After a 36-hour long nap, an accident, he shouldn’t have been able to push Armaan quite so forcefully, but he had. Or maybe Armaan hadn’t tried to steady himself. He felt his fall being broken by gentle yet strong arms, taking over half his weight and gasping at the strain.

Armaan realized that Abhira had protected him, preventing him from crumbling like she always did. “Are you okay, Maan?” Abhira asked in a gentle, concerned tone. Armaan regained his footing within seconds, and almost instinctively, Abhira’s fingers curled around his shirt sleeve.

Armaan looked back at his wife and nodded. “Did you get hurt, princess?” He asked in turn, remembering the strained gasp that he had heard seconds ago. She nodded, smiling softly at him in assurance, and looked back at Rohit.

The soft, caring, chil-like innocent man she had come to admire and love, even grieve in the last two years didn’t stare back at her. Her Devar had been lost in a world of darkness and anger, and she was pretty sure she knew why.

Armaan placed his other hand gently on her curled fingers, “Ira.. relax, princess. We’re okay," he said softly. He was not, Abhira knew that, still she left his shirt sleeve, and almost within seconds, Armaan’s fingers found hers and interlocked. Maan’s grip on her hand felt stronger than normal, and she pressed back, hoping to convey some strength to him.

Rohit glared at them, both of them, his eyes burning in loathing. Abhira stepped forward towards Rohit, her husband instinctively stepping ahead of her. Abhira’s heart melted at the sweet gesture. 

But the fact was, he couldn’t trust Rohit not to hurt Abhira right now. 

“Stay back.” Rohit warned. “Pas mat ana mere. Dhokebaaz hai aap.”

Armaan stopped, meters away from him, and looked back. His eyes met his wife’s and they both reached an agreement. The other kids, the rest of the gang, stood perplexed, distressed, and frozen. Armaan didn’t blame them.