HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Thirteen: Acceptance

The hospital room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the machines monitoring Aarav’s heart. It had been two days since the collapse, and the worst of the storm seemed to have passed. Vivaan, as always, was seated beside his brother, his eyes never leaving the monitors. The fear of losing Aarav had become a near-constant companion, but now, as Aarav slowly regained his strength, there was a glimmer of hope in Vivaan’s chest.

Aarav stirred, blinking as he opened his eyes, his face still pale but showing more color than before. He glanced around, disoriented for a moment, before his eyes landed on Vivaan.

"Hey," Aarav’s voice was raspy, but the soft smile on his face brought immediate relief to Vivaan.

Vivaan leaned forward, his hand instinctively reaching for Aarav’s. "Hey yourself. How are you feeling?"

Aarav let out a weak chuckle. "Like I’ve been hit by a truck, but… better, I guess."

Vivaan nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Good. You scared the hell out of me, you know."

Aarav sighed, looking away for a moment, his expression softening. "I know. I’m sorry."

There was a brief silence, the air between them heavy with the things left unsaid, but it was a comfortable silence, one that gave them both a moment to collect their thoughts.

Finally, Aarav looked back at Vivaan, his hazel eyes steady, and took a deep breath. "Vivaan, there’s something I need to say. About Meera."

Vivaan stiffened slightly, but he kept his gaze on Aarav, waiting.

"I heard everything Kabir said that day. I heard what he said about you and Meera, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I—" Aarav paused, swallowing hard as he tried to find the right words. "I didn’t know. I had no idea you had feelings for her."

Vivaan shook his head. "Aarav, it’s not like that. I never—"

But Aarav raised a hand to stop him. "Let me finish. I know you, Vivaan. You’ve never been the type to chase after someone if it meant hurting me, and that’s what made it harder for me to understand. But, after thinking about it for the past few days, I realized something."

Vivaan stayed silent, his heart pounding in his chest.

Aarav’s gaze softened, his voice quieter now. "You’ve always been there for me. You’ve saved my life more times than I can count. And I’ve never once asked about your life, your happiness. If Meera makes you happy, Vivaan, then you deserve her. You deserve to be with the person you love."

Vivaan’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Aarav, you don’t have to—"

Aarav interrupted him again, this time sitting up slightly and reaching for Vivaan’s shoulder. "I mean it. I love Meera, but I’m not blind. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. And… she deserves someone who loves her unconditionally. You’re that person."

Vivaan felt his chest tighten, emotion welling up inside him. He had been so focused on keeping Aarav alive, on being the strong twin, that he hadn’t considered what would happen when the truth came out. But here was Aarav, offering his blessing, his understanding, when Vivaan had expected anger or resentment.

"I don’t know what to say," Vivaan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn’t want to hurt you."

"You didn’t," Aarav replied, his hand squeezing Vivaan’s shoulder. "In fact, I think you’ve done the opposite. You’ve been my rock through everything. It’s time you let yourself be happy too."

For a moment, the two brothers just looked at each other, the weight of their bond stronger than ever. Then, without warning, Aarav pulled Vivaan into a hug, his arms wrapping around his twin with all the strength he could muster.

"Congratulations, Vivaan," Aarav whispered, his voice thick with sincerity. "You deserve this. You deserve her."

Vivaan held Aarav tightly, his own tears slipping down his face as he hugged his brother back. "Thank you, Aarav," he whispered, overwhelmed by the depth of his brother’s love and selflessness. "Thank you."

When they finally pulled apart, Aarav gave him a teasing grin, though his eyes were filled with warmth. "But just so you know, if you hurt her, I’m coming after you."

Vivaan laughed, wiping at his eyes. "I wouldn’t expect anything less."

Just then, the door creaked open, and Meera stepped in, her eyes wide with surprise at seeing the two brothers so close, clearly having just shared a moment. She smiled softly, her gaze flicking between them. "Am I interrupting?"

Aarav turned to her, his smile easy and genuine. "No, you’re right on time."

He glanced at Vivaan, who met his eyes with a look of gratitude, before Aarav turned back to Meera.

"You’re lucky," Aarav said with a playful wink, "he’s a good man."

Meera looked confused for a moment, but then she caught on, her face softening as she stepped toward them. "I know," she whispered, her eyes locking with Vivaan’s.

Vivaan felt his heart swell as he looked at her, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to fully feel what he had been keeping locked away. The weight of the world, the responsibility of saving Aarav, the guilt—it all began to lift.

As Meera moved to Vivaan’s side, Aarav leaned back on his pillows, watching the two of them with a smile. It wasn’t easy letting go, but for the first time, he felt at peace with it. Vivaan had always been his protector, his hero. It was time for him to have something for himself.

Aarav closed his eyes briefly, letting the warmth of the moment wash over him. Despite everything, he knew that whatever the future held, the bond between him and Vivaan would never break. They were brothers, through thick and thin, and nothing—not even love—would change that.