Unwanted Love

Survival

Author's pov

The tension in the room was suffocating, every breath filled with the weight of life and death. Tara stood frozen, held at gunpoint by Sidharth's father. His grip on her was tight, the cold edge of the knife pressed against her throat. Sidharth, helpless and torn, stood before them, his emotions in turmoil as he watched the love of his life in such danger. His father's cruel smile told him everything—this wasn't just about control; this was about power, dominance, and secrets.

But then, the door creaked open, and in walked Arjun, Sidharth's younger brother. His presence, like a storm brewing, shifted the entire mood in the room. Arjun's eyes scanned the situation, locking onto the gun his father held so threateningly to Tara's throat. His face darkened with rage.

Sidharth's father stiffened the moment he saw Arjun, a flicker of fear flashing across his eyes. He had always kept his darker dealings hidden from his youngest son, afraid that Arjun might see the monster lurking beneath his fatherly mask. Arjun was the golden boy, the one who could never know about the sins of the family.

But Arjun wasn't a boy anymore. He was a man—a man who had seen more than his father ever knew. Without a word, Arjun moved forward with a deadly calm. In one swift motion, he pulled a gun from his jacket and leveled it directly at his father's head.

"Let her go," Arjun's voice was low, firm, filled with a chilling certainty. The gun in his hand didn't waver, not even for a second.

Sidharth's father faltered, his composure cracking as he saw the fire in Arjun's eyes. He had never anticipated this—his own son, the one he had always seen as naive, turning against him with such force.

"Arjun...," his father began, but the words stuck in his throat, fear creeping into his voice.

"I said, let her go." Arjun stepped closer, his eyes flicking to Tara briefly before locking back on his father. There was no hesitation in his stance, no sign of doubt. His finger hovered over the trigger, and his father knew he wasn't bluffing.

Sidharth watched the scene unfold in stunned silence. This was not how he had imagined the confrontation would end. But in that moment, he realized something—Arjun was ready to do what Sidharth had struggled with for so long. He was ready to stand against their father, even if it meant pointing a gun at his own blood.

The seconds stretched on, each one heavier than the last. Tara's breathing was shallow, her pulse racing as the gun remained close to her skin. But her eyes flickered with hope as she saw the fierce determination in Arjun's face.
Rajesh hesitated, his hand trembling as he finally released Tara. The gun slipped from his grasp, clattering against the cold floor, and in an instant, Sidharth was there. He ran towards Tara, his arms reaching for her like she was the only thing tethering him to reality. With one swift motion, he pulled her into his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around her trembling form, shielding her from the madness that had nearly consumed them both.

Tara buried herself against him, her breathing ragged, but the warmth of his embrace brought her a fragile sense of safety. Sidharth's heart raced, but he whispered soft reassurances, pressing his cheek to her hair, as if to shield her from the world.

The room was thick with tension, but the worst of it had passed. Or so they thought.

A slow, bitter laugh escaped from Sidharth's father. "Ah, you weren't supposed to see this," he said, his voice low and almost detached, as though the entire situation were a mere inconvenience to him.

Arjun's gun never lowered, still aimed squarely at his father's head. But the younger brother remained silent, his eyes narrowing as the older man spoke, waiting for what would come next.