Guardian

-:chapter 20:-

Arnav Rajvanshi sat on his bed, gripping a photo frame tightly in his hands. His teary eyes locked on the image of a younger boy smiling brightly beside him. He traced the edges of the photo with trembling fingers, the weight of guilt and loss pressing heavily on his chest.

"Bohat jald main tumhare pas hounga baccha, bas kuch din aur...I miss you" he whispered, his voice cracking under the strain of emotion. He placed the photo down gently on the side table, palms pressing against his face as he tried to steady his breath.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from downstairs, snapping him out of his sorrow. He heard shouting, followed by hurried footsteps. Alarmed, he rushed towards the stairwell, standing on the upper landing, his eyes narrowing at the scene unfolding below.

In the hall, Abhimanyu had stormed into the house, fury burning in his eyes, while Aditya trailed close behind him. Arnav's guards were attempting to restrain Abhimanyu, but it was futile; Abhimanyu, in his wrath, was unstoppable. The guards looked up at Arnav for instructions, panic in their expressions.

"Sir, they just barged in! We tried to stop them-" one of the guards stammered.

Arnav, still standing on the stairs, raised a hand. "Let them come. " he said coldly.

Abhimanyu's red, rage-filled eyes met Arnav's as he ascended the stairs in quick, forceful strides. Without any hesitation, Abhimanyu grabbed Arnav by the collar, slamming him against the wall. The impact was so hard that the sound echoed throughout the hall.

"How could you, Arnav?" Abhimanyu seethed through gritted teeth, his voice low but lethal. "How could you use him? Baccha hai woh, and you dragged him into this-into your hate for me?"

Arnav shoved Abhimanyu back with a force that surprised even him. "Because he deserves to know the truth!" Arnav shouted, his voice filled with anger but also something deeper-hurt. "He deserves to know what kind of monster you are."

"Jis insaan ke sath woh baccha reh Raha hai uski ki sachai pata honi chahiye na usse or Were you planning to keep him in the dark forever? Did you think you could manipulate him just like everyone else in your life? Admit it-you're using him for your own gains.

Abhimanyu raised his fist, poised to strike Arnav. But his hand stopped in midair, trembling. The fury within him was consuming, but how could he hurt the man he once called his brother? His fist slammed into the wall instead, the crack of his knuckles reverberating. Blood smeared the wall, and for a brief moment, silence filled the room.

Aditya, alarmed, stepped forward. "Kya kar raha hai, Abhi? Stop it!"

Abhimanyu's jaw clenched as he glared at Arnav, his chest heaving. "Tere aur mere beech jo bhi hua, woh hamare beech rehna chahiye arnav. Don't you dare drag my brother into this. Tujhe jo karna hai, mere saath kar. I don't care. But if you ever bring Avyansh into this again, I swear... you won't live to regret it.Yeh akhri baar keh raha hoon, Arnav Rajvanshi. Agli baar warning nahi dunga... I will kill you"

With that final threat, Abhimanyu turned and walked out, his shoulders rigid with fury.

Aditya stared at Arnav, his heart heavy with confusion and sadness.

The man standing before him now was not the same Arnav Rajvanshi he had known. Something had broken inside him-something dark had taken hold.

Aditya shook his head, taking a step closer. "Don't do this, Arnav. Yeh jo galatfehmi hai, issse aur mat badha. Jo kuch tune socha hai, dekha hai... it's not the full truth."

"Wahi sach hai, Adi," Arnav said, his voice cold. "Woh insaan jo karta hai, mera man karta hai uske saath bhi wahi karun. He deserves it."

"Shut up arnav, kuch bhi bol raha hai tu, ek baar bhi tune usse explain karne ka mouka diya?, tujhe toh kuch pata bhi nahi hai ki kya hua tha uske sath Arnav."