Yearning

The Shift

Manas's POV:

It’s strange how life changes without you even noticing. A few weeks had gone by, and I didn’t realize how much my world had shifted. Jahnvi had become such an integral part of my day-to-day that everything else seemed to fade into the background—everything, including Rakshita, my real sister back in London.

At first, I didn’t mean to ignore her calls. Work was hectic, and I was spending more time with Jahnvi than I had anticipated. We’d go out for ice cream, walk around the park, or just sit and talk after her school. Every time my phone buzzed with Rakshita’s name on the screen, I’d think, I’ll call her back later. But “later” kept slipping further away, and eventually, I stopped picking up at all. Jahnvi needed me here, I told myself. I’d catch up with Rakshita soon.

Today was one of those days where everything felt peaceful, at least for a while. Jahnvi and I had decided to go out after school—just a casual evening. She was excited, her usual energetic self, and I enjoyed watching her light up over the simplest things.

We were walking along the street when it happened.

A man, probably in his twenties, staggered towards us. He looked drunk—his steps were unsteady, and his eyes locked onto Jahnvi in a way that immediately set off alarm bells in my head. Before I could react, he got too close. His hand was about to brush against Jahnvi’s arm as he mumbled something incoherent. Before he could touch her, I pulled her back.

Jahnvi froze, her face draining of color. I could see the fear in her eyes.

“Hey!” I shouted, stepping between them. My blood was boiling. The guy barely registered my anger, his gaze still leering at her. Without thinking, my fist flew out, landing squarely on his jaw. He stumbled back, caught off guard, and fell to the ground.

“Stay the hell away from her,” I growled, my voice low and menacing.

He didn’t even try to fight back, probably too drunk to stand properly. But I wasn’t focused on him anymore. I turned to Jahnvi, and the look on her face broke me.

She was trembling, her eyes wide with shock, her whole body stiff. It was like she was somewhere else, lost in her fear, unable to move.

“Jahnvi,” I whispered, gently taking her hand. “It’s okay. He’s gone.”

But she didn’t respond. Her breathing was shallow, her hands clammy in mine. She wasn’t just scared—she was traumatized.

I immediately regretted what had just happened. Maybe hitting him hadn’t been the best idea. Maybe it made things worse for her. But at that moment, all I could think about was keeping her safe.

“Hey,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around her, trying to pull her into a comforting hug. “It’s over. I’m here. You’re safe.”

She finally blinked, her lips trembling as she whispered, “Bhaiya… I was so scared.”

My heart clenched at the sound of her voice, so small and fragile. I held her tighter, my chest tightening with guilt. She had already gone through so much, and now this. I had promised to protect her, and yet, here we were.

“I know, Jahnvi,” I said, stroking her hair gently. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

She buried her face into her hands, her small frame shaking with quiet sobs. “Why does this keep happening to me? Why can’t people just leave me alone?”

I wished I had an answer for her, but all I could do was be by her side, trying to make her feel as safe as possible.

“I don’t know, Jahnvi,” I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat.

“But I’m here. And I’ll always be here. No one’s going to hurt you. Not while I’m around.”

She hugged me, her grip tightening as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded. For a long time, we just stood there, the world around us fading into the background. I didn’t care about anything else—just her.

Eventually, she pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry, Bhaiya. I didn’t mean to fall apart like this.”

“Hey, no,” I said quickly, tilting her chin up so she’d look at me.

“You don’t need to apologize. Ever. You’ve been through enough, and I’m just glad you’re talking to me. I’ll always be here for you.”

She nodded, though the sadness still lingered in her eyes. I could tell this wasn’t something she’d easily forget. But I had to make sure she knew she wasn’t alone in this.

“I think we should go home,” I said gently.

“You need some rest.”

She didn’t argue, just nodded again and followed me quietly to the car. The drive back was silent, but I could feel her calming down little by little. I kept glancing at her, my heart heavy with worry. This incident had shaken her to the core, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I didn’t know if I could.

When we reached home, I helped her inside, guiding her to her room. She sat down on the bed, still quiet, and I knelt in front of her.

“You’re strong, Jahnvi,” I told her, my voice firm but gentle.

“Stronger than you know. And whatever happens, I’m always going to protect you. No matter what.”

She gave me a small, shaky smile.

“Thank you, Bhaiya. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I smiled back, though a part of me felt conflicted. I had forgotten about Rakshita in all of this, pushed her aside without even realizing it. Jahnvi had become the center of my world, and I didn’t know how to balance everything anymore.

But right now, none of that mattered. All that mattered was making sure she was okay.

As she curled up on the bed, I sat beside her, keeping watch. The weight of responsibility had never felt heavier, but I welcomed it. I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Even if it meant losing a part of myself in the process.