Yearning

The Unexpected Ride

Manas POV:

I had just crashed after a long night at work. The night shifts at the IT Park were taking a toll on me, and all I wanted was a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. But life, of course, had other plans. I was deep in a dream when the sound of the doorbell yanked me back to reality.

Groggily, I rolled out of bed, rubbing my eyes and muttering under my breath. Who could it be this early? My brain wasn’t fully functioning yet, but I dragged myself to the door.

When I opened it, there stood Shivanya Aunty—Jahnvi’s mom, looking a little flustered.

"Manas, I’m so sorry to disturb you," she started, her voice hurried but apologetic. "I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t urgent."

I blinked, trying to clear the fog in my head. "No worries, Aunty. What’s up?"

"Jahnvi’s auto driver just called me. He’s on leave today, and I need someone to drop Jahnvi and Manvi at school. I’m running late for work, and I don’t have time to arrange anything else."

I scratched the back of my head, still waking up. "Oh... uh, sure. No problem. I’ll take them."

"Thank you so much, beta. I really appreciate it," she said with a relieved smile. "They’re just finishing breakfast. You can leave in about ten minutes."

I nodded, still trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. "Got it, Aunty. I’ll be ready."

As soon as she left, I closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a long breath. So much for sleeping in. I glanced at the clock—7:45 a.m. I had barely slept three hours.

I splashed some cold water on my face to wake myself up, grabbed my keys, and headed downstairs. By the time I reached their door, Jahnvi and Manvi were already outside, their school bags slung over their shoulders.

“Manas Bhaiya!” Jahnvi chirped, her usual energy radiating despite the early hour. “Thank you for taking us today.”

“No problem,” I said, giving her a tired smile. “Ready to go?”

Manvi, holding her doll from yesterday, gave me a small wave. “Hi, Bhaiya. Can I sit in the front?”

I chuckled, unlocking the car. “Sure, but only if Jahnvi doesn’t mind.”

Jahnvi rolled her eyes playfully. “It’s fine, let her sit in front. I’ll just play some music in the back.”

I laughed softly as they climbed into the car, the mood instantly lightened by their usual banter. I started the engine and pulled out of the driveway, trying to focus on the road while my body still craved sleep.

"So, Bhaiya," Jahnvi said from the backseat, "Do you ever sleep?"

I smirked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “Not when I’ve got duties like this. Apparently, I’m your chauffeur now.”

She giggled, her laughter always so light, so easy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know our auto uncle was on leave until the last minute.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, smiling. “I’d much rather spend my morning driving you two than, you know, sleep.”

“Liar,” Manvi chimed in from the front seat, grinning. “You were totally sleeping when mom called you.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “And how would you know that?”

“Because you look half-asleep now!” she teased, sticking her tongue out.

I couldn’t help but laugh. They were right—I was still pretty groggy. But somehow, being around Jahnvi and Manvi always gave me a weird kind of energy. Even on days when I thought I had nothing left in the tank, spending time with them made everything feel lighter.

We pulled up to the school gates, and both girls grabbed their bags, ready to hop out.

“Thanks again, Bhaiya!” Jahnvi said, leaning over the seat to give me a quick hug. “You saved us today.”

“No worries,” I said, patting her head like I always did. “Be good. And make sure Manvi doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“Hey!” Manvi protested, shooting me a playful glare. “I never cause trouble!”

“Yeah, sure,” I said with a wink, unlocking the doors. “See you guys later.”

They both waved as they headed towards the school entrance, their backpacks bouncing with each step. I watched them for a moment, feeling that familiar warmth spread through me. I couldn’t help but smile.

As I drove back home, though, my thoughts wandered. Spending time with Jahnvi had become so routine now—helping her with homework, talking after school, taking little drives like this one. And yet, each time, there was this strange feeling I couldn’t quite put into words. A sense of responsibility, sure. But something else, too. Something deeper. Something I couldn’t shake.

I told myself it was just because she looked up to me. She had always wanted an elder brother, and I was filling that role for her. It made sense. But then, why did I feel so… protective? So concerned about every little thing that happened to her?

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts away as I pulled back into the driveway. This was normal. I was her big brother. I was supposed to care.

But the more time I spent with her, the more I wondered if that’s all it really was.