HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Ninteen: The Touch of Fear

A few weeks had passed since Aarav and Aditya cracked the Sengupta deal, a victory that still reverberated through the company. Business was thriving, and Aarav, despite everything, was in high spirits. But in the back of his mind, the lingering threat of Kabir Mittal's retaliation loomed. He knew Kabir wouldn't stay silent for long. The man had too much pride to let a loss like this go.

It was a breezy afternoon in the office when Aarav found himself leaning back in his chair, staring out the window. The hustle of the city below usually calmed him, but today, his mind was restless. The echoes of Kabir's last words, "This isn’t over," kept playing in his mind.

His phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a message from Aditya: **"Meeting in 10. Senguptas joining."**

Aarav sighed and stood up, mentally preparing himself. He had been feeling great these past few days, physically and emotionally. The heart pain that used to plague him frequently had been under control, and Vivaan was always nearby if anything went wrong. Yet, he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling brewing in his chest.

The boardroom was buzzing with energy when Aarav entered. Aditya was already seated, going over some documents, while the rest of the team prepped for the meeting. A sense of excitement hung in the air; the Senguptas were an important client, and their collaboration was a huge milestone for Raheja Enterprises.

As Aarav took his seat at the head of the table, he caught Aditya's eye. "You ready for this?" Aditya asked, grinning.

"Always," Aarav replied, his confidence masking the unease sitting heavy in his chest.

The meeting started smoothly. Presentations were made, strategies discussed, and everything was going according to plan. Aarav was fully engaged, but halfway through, an odd sensation washed over him—tightness in his chest. He tried to ignore it, brushing it off as stress or nerves.

But the feeling persisted.

A sharp pain shot through his chest, and his vision blurred for a second. Aarav shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his hand instinctively moving to his heart. Aditya, who had been discussing logistics with one of the Sengupta representatives, noticed the subtle movement.

"You okay, Aarav?" Aditya's voice was filled with concern, but he kept it low so as not to alarm the room.

"I'm fine," Aarav whispered, forcing a smile, though his face was paler than usual. He couldn't let this meeting fall apart—not after all their hard work.

But then the pain intensified, a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe. Aarav tried to keep his composure, but a bead of sweat trickled down his temple, and his hand gripped the edge of the table for support.

Aditya saw it now, the telltale signs of something more serious. His own heart began to race as he leaned closer. "Aarav, you're not fine. We need to get you out of here."

Before Aarav could respond, his body betrayed him. His chest tightened further, and his vision darkened as the pain became unbearable. His breathing grew shallow, and without warning, Aarav collapsed forward onto the table.

The room erupted into chaos. The Sengupta representatives stood up in alarm, and the team rushed to Aarav's side. Aditya shouted for help, his mind racing. "Call Vivaan! NOW!"

Moments later, Vivaan stormed into the boardroom, his white coat still on, and his eyes zeroed in on his twin brother. Without wasting a second, he moved into action, directing the others to give him space.

"Aarav, stay with me," Vivaan whispered, his voice urgent but calm. He checked Aarav's pulse, his hands working swiftly and efficiently, his years of medical training taking over. But inside, his heart was pounding.

"He's having a cardiac episode," Vivaan announced. "We need to get him to the hospital, but I can stabilize him here."

The minutes that followed felt like hours. Vivaan instructed Aditya to help while the rest of the team watched in stunned silence. Aditya’s hands trembled as he followed Vivaan's commands, but his faith in Vivaan kept him steady.

Vivaan applied a portable defibrillator, his heart aching with every shock he delivered to his brother. "Come on, Aarav," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with emotion. "Come back to me."

The first shock yielded nothing. The second, still nothing. By the third shock, Aarav's body jolted, and after a terrifying pause, his heart rate began to stabilize.

Vivaan sighed in relief, though his face remained grim. "We need to get him to the hospital. Now."

***

Hours later, Aarav lay in the hospital bed, unconscious but stable. Vivaan stood by his side, his hands still shaking from the adrenaline. He had just saved his twin brother’s life, but the fear of losing him had cut deeper than he could express.

Aditya entered the room quietly, his face pale with worry. "How is he?"

"He’ll be okay," Vivaan said softly, though his eyes remained on Aarav. "But this… this can’t keep happening. His heart isn’t as strong as it used to be."

Aditya sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don’t know how much more of this we can take. And Kabir—he's not going to back off. We need to keep Aarav safe."

Vivaan clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "Kabir’s responsible for this. I’m sure of it. But right now, Aarav’s health comes first. The rest… we’ll handle it later."

As they stood in the silent room, the weight of their victory over the Senguptas felt distant. Kabir Mittal’s revenge had already begun—and they had to be ready for whatever came next.