HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Fifteen: Healing Past Wounds

Aarav sat on the balcony of their family home, staring into the twilight sky. The cool evening breeze ruffled his hair, but his thoughts were anything but calm. His mind raced, replaying the conversation with Saanjh over and over again. The unexpected return of his long-lost love had shaken him deeply, reopening wounds he thought had long since healed.

He knew he needed to talk to Vivaan. His twin brother had always been his anchor, his voice of reason. And though they had been through their share of ups and downs, Aarav trusted Vivaan more than anyone else. Tonight, he needed that clarity more than ever.

Aarav picked up his phone and texted Vivaan to meet him on the balcony. A few minutes later, Vivaan appeared, his usual confident stride now tinged with concern as he approached.

Vivaan sat beside Aarav, looking at his brother's troubled face. “What's up? You sounded serious in your text.”

Aarav sighed, rubbing his hands together as he tried to find the right words. “She’s back, Vivaan.”

Vivaan frowned, unsure of what Aarav meant at first. “Who?”

Aarav glanced at him, his voice quieter now. “*Saanjh*.”

Vivaan’s expression shifted, his concern deepening into a mixture of surprise and frustration. He sat up straighter, looking directly into Aarav’s eyes. “Wait, what? Saanjh? She’s back?”

Aarav nodded slowly. “Yeah… she came to see me at the office today.”

For a few moments, there was silence between them, as if the weight of the revelation was too much to process. Vivaan’s jaw clenched slightly. He had seen the toll Saanjh’s sudden disappearance had taken on Aarav years ago. Vivaan had been there when Aarav had tried to bury his heartbreak in work, relationships, and distractions, but the scars had never fully healed. And now, she had returned, just like that?

“Aarav…” Vivaan started, his voice more serious than usual, “what does she want? Why is she back now, after all this time?”

Aarav ran a hand through his curls, clearly conflicted. “She said she didn’t have a choice back then. Her family was in trouble, and she had to leave to protect them. Now… now she says she wants to make things right, that she regrets leaving.”

Vivaan’s eyes narrowed. He could see the hope flickering in Aarav’s expression, and it made his stomach twist. He hated seeing his brother vulnerable, especially to someone who had already caused him so much pain. “And you believe her?”

Aarav hesitated. “I don’t know, Vivaan. I want to, but at the same time… I’m not sure. She was such an important part of my life. I don’t know if I can just ignore her being back, but I also don’t know if I can trust her again.”

Vivaan’s jaw tightened. “Aarav, you need to be careful. I get it—you loved her. But she left you. No explanation. No goodbye. And now, after all these years, she suddenly shows up and expects you to just take her back?”

“I know, Vivaan, I know…” Aarav’s voice broke slightly. “But part of me feels like I never really moved on. It’s like the moment I saw her, everything from the past came rushing back.”

Vivaan’s face softened slightly, but the concern in his eyes remained. “Look, I get that. But I don’t want to see you hurt again. You’ve already been through so much—between your health and everything else… Aarav, this could be dangerous for you.”

Aarav looked down, nodding. “I get it. But I also don’t want to live my life wondering what could have been. What if she really has changed?”

Vivaan sighed, running his hand through his straight hair in frustration. “Aarav, I’m just worried about you. After everything that’s happened, with your heart condition and the stress you’ve been under with work, I don’t want you to take on more than you can handle. What if things go south again? Can you really afford to risk that?”

Aarav turned to face him, his eyes earnest. “Vivaan, I’ve been lost since she left. It feels like maybe now, I have a chance to find that part of myself again. I just don’t want to throw away the opportunity without giving it a shot.”

Vivaan frowned, torn between wanting to support his brother and protecting him from what could be another emotional collapse. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Aarav, I love you, and I’ll support you no matter what. But promise me, you’ll take this slow. Don’t let her back into your life so quickly. You need to guard your heart. I don’t want to see you broken again.”

Aarav swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. “I promise. I’ll be careful.”

Vivaan exhaled, relieved but still uneasy. “Okay. But if things start feeling off, if she gives you even one reason to doubt her, you come to me. You’ve got more important things to focus on right now—your health, our business. You can’t let anything, or anyone, put that at risk.”

Aarav looked at his brother, grateful for his unwavering support. “I know. And I will come to you, I swear.”

Vivaan placed a hand on Aarav’s shoulder. “Good. Just remember, I’ve got your back, always. We’re in this together.”

Aarav smiled faintly. “I know. Thanks, Vivaan.”

As the brothers sat in the quiet of the evening, Vivaan couldn’t shake the unease settling in his chest. Saanjh’s return might offer hope to Aarav, but it also threatened to stir up the past. He could only hope that this time, things would be different, and his brother wouldn’t end up with a shattered heart once again.

But deep down, Vivaan couldn’t help but worry—what if history repeated itself? And if it did, would Aarav be strong enough to survive it?