HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Four:Silence Before The Storm

Vivaan stood frozen, the weight of Aarav’s words hanging in the room like an unforgiving storm. He could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, the distant hum of the city outside barely registering.

“Aarav…” Vivaan started, but his voice failed him. What could he say? That he never meant for this to happen? That he didn’t want to fall for Meera?

Aarav’s expression was unreadable, his eyes fixed on Vivaan with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.

“She told me how you feel,” Aarav said quietly, his voice measured. “About her.”

Vivaan swallowed hard, trying to gauge his brother’s emotions. “Aarav, I—”

“I don’t blame you,” Aarav interrupted, his tone more composed than Vivaan had expected. “Feelings don’t exactly ask for permission, do they?”

Vivaan blinked, taken aback by the calmness in Aarav’s voice. He had expected anger, maybe even fury, but Aarav’s reaction was something else. There was an odd calmness about him—like a man who had already prepared for the worst.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” Vivaan said, stepping closer. “I swear. It’s just… it’s been hard seeing you push yourself to the brink. And in the middle of all that, I—” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “I never wanted to come between you two.”

Aarav leaned back on the couch, his face unreadable as he let out a slow breath. “You didn’t,” he said softly. “I think we’ve both been drifting. I’ve been so focused on the company, on keeping everything afloat… I’ve neglected everything else. I know that.”

Vivaan could see the exhaustion in Aarav’s eyes, the weariness that no amount of business success could cover up. For years, they had been chasing the same dream—their father’s dream. But now, in this moment, it all felt fragile.

“I love her,” Aarav said after a long pause, his voice raw. “But I also know that I’ve put everything else first. I never gave her the attention she deserved. I thought I had time, that we had time. But life doesn’t wait for you to get your priorities straight, does it?”

Vivaan felt the pang of guilt rise in his chest again. He had never wanted to be the cause of this rift between them. “Aarav, if you want me to walk away—”

“No.” Aarav cut him off with a firm shake of his head. “This isn’t about you walking away. It’s about us being honest with each other, for once.” He paused, his gaze softening. “I know you’ve been there for her in ways I couldn’t be. I see it. And… maybe that’s why I’m not angry. I’m just tired, Vivaan. Tired of fighting everything—my heart, the business, my life.”

The words “my heart” hung in the air, and Vivaan knew they carried a double meaning.

“I spoke to Dr. Sinha,” Aarav continued, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words. “I know what needs to happen now. The surgery… it has to happen. Soon.”

Vivaan’s chest tightened. “You’ve decided?”

Aarav nodded, his gaze distant. “Yeah. It’s not just about me anymore. There are people who care about me, and I can’t keep pretending that I’m invincible.”

Vivaan couldn’t help the relief that washed over him, but it was tinged with fear. “That’s good, Aarav. It’s the right choice. But we’re going to get through this. All of us.”

Aarav gave a small smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. We’ll see.”

A silence fell between them, the weight of unspoken words lingering. Finally, Vivaan broke it, his voice quieter now. “What about Meera?”

Aarav’s eyes darkened again, but his expression remained thoughtful. “She loves me, Vivaan. I know that. But I also know she cares about you. I don’t know how things will turn out. But right now, the most important thing is that I’m still here. That I’m fighting. We can figure everything else out later.”

Vivaan nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at him. He had no idea how this would end—whether their brotherhood would survive the growing chasm between them, whether Meera’s feelings for him would ever complicate things further. But in that moment, with Aarav finally agreeing to take care of his heart, there was hope.

And for now, hope was enough.

As Aarav stood to leave, he turned to Vivaan one last time. “Let’s not let this come between us,” he said, his voice low but firm. “We’ve been through too much together.”

Vivaan swallowed hard, nodding. “I promise. We’ll get through this.”

Aarav gave him a small nod and headed for the door, leaving Vivaan standing in the middle of the room, lost in thought.

Vivaan watched him go, a quiet resolve settling in his chest. No matter what lay ahead, no matter the tangled web of emotions, one thing was clear: He wouldn’t let his brother face this battle alone.