HeartStrings Entwined:A Tale of BrotherHood✅

Chapter Twenty Three: A Brother's Vow

The soft beeping of the machines in Meera’s hospital room echoed through the stillness of the night. Aarav sat beside her, his hand gently holding hers, watching her breathe in shallow, steady rhythms. Vivaan had gone home to rest after ensuring she was stable, but Aarav couldn't leave. His mind was too restless, consumed by thoughts of Kabir and what had transpired.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a message from Vivaan:

*"Let me know if she wakes up. We’ll talk in the morning about how to handle Kabir."*

Aarav didn't reply. There wasn’t much to say. His thoughts were already racing with plans, each one darker than the last. Kabir had crossed every line imaginable, and there would be no mercy. Aarav would see to that personally.

Meera stirred slightly, her brow furrowing in her sleep. Aarav leaned closer, his voice soft and comforting. “It’s okay, Meera. You’re safe now.”

She didn’t wake, but her hand tightened around his for a brief moment, and Aarav felt a pang in his chest. She didn’t deserve this. None of them did.

Hours passed, and dawn began to break. The first rays of light streamed through the blinds, casting a soft glow over the room. Aarav hadn’t slept, but the adrenaline of his fury kept him alert. His phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Aditya.

“Aarav?” Aditya’s voice was cautious on the other end. “I heard about Meera. Is she okay?”

“She’s stable for now,” Aarav replied, keeping his voice low. “But Kabir went too far this time, Adi. This isn’t just about business anymore.”

“I know,” Aditya sighed. “But you need to be careful. Kabir’s dangerous, and if he’s willing to do this, who knows what else he’s capable of?”

Aarav’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care. I’m not going to sit back and wait for him to come after us again. We need to end this.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Aditya spoke again, more resolute. “You know I’m with you. Whatever you need.”

Aarav nodded, though Aditya couldn’t see him. “Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.”

As he hung up the phone, Meera stirred again, this time her eyes fluttering open. She blinked against the light, her gaze slowly focusing on Aarav beside her.

“Aarav…” Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

He leaned closer, relief washing over him as he saw her awake. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

She winced as she tried to sit up, and Aarav gently placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Don’t move too much. The doctors said you need rest.”

Meera gave a small nod, her face pale. “What… what happened?”

“Kabir happened,” Aarav said, the bitterness evident in his voice. “He sent someone to hurt you, to send a message. I’m so sorry, Meera. You got caught in the crossfire.”

Meera’s eyes filled with pain, not just from her physical injuries but from the realization of the danger that surrounded them. “I knew he was ruthless, but… I didn’t think he would go this far.”

“He won’t get away with this,” Aarav promised, his voice hardening. “I’m going to make sure of that.”

Meera’s hand tightened around his. “Aarav, please… don’t do anything reckless. I don’t want you or Vivaan getting hurt because of me.”

Aarav shook his head, his resolve unwavering. “This isn’t just about you, Meera. Kabir’s been coming after our family for too long. He’s hurt people I care about. I’m not letting him do it again.”

Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and Vivaan walked in, his face tired but determined. He looked at Meera and gave her a small smile. “Good to see you awake.”

Meera managed a faint smile in return. “Thanks to both of you.”

Vivaan nodded, then turned his attention to Aarav, the tension between the brothers palpable. “We need to talk.”

Aarav stood, giving Meera’s hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping outside the room with Vivaan. Once the door closed behind them, Vivaan crossed his arms, his expression serious.

“I know what you’re thinking, Aarav. You want to take Kabir down, and I get it. But we need to be smart about this.”

Aarav’s fists clenched at his sides. “He nearly killed her, Vivaan. I can’t just sit back and let him walk away from this.”

Vivaan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m not saying we do nothing. But Kabir is calculating. If we strike too soon or too recklessly, he’ll use it against us. We need to gather enough evidence, build a case—something that will destroy him for good.”

“And in the meantime, what? We just wait for him to come after us again?”

“We protect ourselves,” Vivaan said firmly. “We watch every move he makes, and when the time is right, we hit him where it hurts. But right now, we can’t afford to act out of anger.”

Aarav paced the hallway, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “I’m tired of playing defense, Vivaan.”

Vivaan placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder, his eyes filled with concern. “I know. But Meera needs you right now. Focus on her recovery. We’ll deal with Kabir, together.”

Aarav let out a long breath, nodding reluctantly. “Fine. But we can’t wait too long. Kabir won’t stop.”

“We won’t wait,” Vivaan assured him. “But we’ll do this the right way.”

As they reentered Meera’s room, Aarav’s mind was already turning, formulating a plan. Vivaan was right—they couldn’t be reckless. But one thing was clear: Kabir Mittal’s days were numbered.

The battle had only just begun.