HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Eleven: HeartStrings

Vivaan sat quietly by Aarav’s bedside, his fingers drumming lightly against the edge of the chair. Aarav’s breathing had steadied, but Vivaan’s mind was still racing. Ever since Aarav’s collapse in the office, Vivaan hadn’t left his side, playing the role of not just a brother but a doctor as well.

Aarav had been released from the hospital under strict instructions to avoid stress and overexertion. He was supposed to rest, yet Vivaan could sense that Aarav was trying to keep up appearances, pretending he was fine when he wasn’t. The truth was, every time Aarav felt a pang of pain, Vivaan could see it in his eyes—the slight wince, the way his hand instinctively reached for his chest. It killed Vivaan inside to watch Aarav go through it, but he also knew his brother too well. Aarav wouldn’t admit to the pain unless it became unbearable.

One evening, the two of them sat in the living room, the television flickering in the background. Aarav had insisted on attending a virtual meeting with some clients earlier, much to Vivaan’s dismay. Now, Aarav was trying to act like everything was normal, scrolling through his phone as though nothing had happened.

Vivaan glanced over and saw it—the subtle change in Aarav’s expression. His brother’s face had tensed, his hand moving slightly toward his chest. It was happening again.

“Aarav,” Vivaan called softly, “you okay?”

Aarav didn’t respond immediately, his fingers gripping the armrest a little too tightly. Vivaan’s eyes narrowed, and before Aarav could brush it off, Vivaan was already by his side.

“Stop pretending like it’s nothing,” Vivaan said, his voice firm but filled with concern. He gently guided Aarav’s hand away from his chest, knowing that the pain was probably deeper than his brother was letting on. “Let me check.”

Aarav exhaled heavily, leaning back into the couch as he gave in. “It’s just… it comes and goes. I’m fine, Vivaan.”

But Vivaan wasn’t about to take chances. He pulled out his stethoscope—he had kept it close since Aarav’s last incident—and placed it against Aarav’s chest, listening intently. His brows furrowed as he heard the irregular rhythm.

“Your heart rate’s not stable,” Vivaan muttered under his breath, already reaching for his medical bag. He didn’t have the luxury of a hospital room here, but he was prepared. Every day since Aarav had come home, Vivaan had taken it upon himself to monitor his brother’s condition closely.

Aarav tried to smile through the discomfort, but his eyes betrayed him. “I don’t need a doctor right now, Vivaan. I just need my brother.”

“You’ve got both,” Vivaan replied, grabbing the portable ECG monitor from his bag. He attached the electrodes to Aarav’s chest, watching the screen as it displayed the erratic heartbeat. “I’m not letting anything happen to you.”

Minutes passed in tense silence as Vivaan administered a dose of medication to regulate Aarav’s heart rate. He watched his brother carefully, looking for signs of relief. Aarav’s breathing slowly evened out, and his heartbeat steadied.

“You’ve got to take it easy,” Vivaan said softly, kneeling beside Aarav once the worst of it had passed. “I know you want to get back to work, but this... this is serious. Your heart needs time.”

Aarav sighed, running a hand through his curly hair. “I hate feeling this weak. I hate depending on everyone else. The business is slipping through my fingers, Vivaan. Kabir is out there, waiting to pounce. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

Vivaan placed a hand on Aarav’s shoulder. “You’re not doing nothing. You’re healing. And I promise you, the business will be there when you’re ready. Kabir won’t win.”

“But what if…” Aarav started, the fear he rarely showed bubbling to the surface. “What if I don’t get better? What if my heart can’t take it anymore?”

Vivaan’s face hardened with determination. “You *will* get better. And I’ll be here to make sure of it. Every time you feel pain, every time you think it’s too much, I’ll be here, ready to help. We’ve fought through worse, Aarav.”

Aarav closed his eyes, nodding slightly. The pain had subsided for now, but he knew it wasn’t the last time he would feel it. Yet, with Vivaan by his side, it didn’t feel quite as daunting. Vivaan had always been the calm in the storm, the one who kept everything together when Aarav felt like falling apart.

“I trust you,” Aarav murmured, the weight of exhaustion pulling him toward sleep. “I always have.”

Vivaan sat back, watching as his brother drifted off into a much-needed rest. His heart ached, not from any physical ailment, but from the heavy responsibility of keeping Aarav safe. He had already saved Aarav’s life once in the operating room, but now, every day felt like a new battle. One wrong move, one moment of letting his guard down, and Aarav could be gone.

But Vivaan wasn’t about to let that happen. As long as Aarav needed him, he would always be there—doctor, brother, protector. Whatever it took.

As the night deepened, Vivaan sat beside Aarav, his stethoscope still draped around his neck. He would watch over his brother, always ready, always alert, because that’s what they had always done for each other.

And no heart condition, no rivalry, no challenge, would ever break the bond they shared.