The Veiled Hearts

🌹The Lion's Arrival 🔪

The crackling of fire was the only sound in the air, thick smoke clinging to every breath. The flames roared behind them, devouring what was left of the storage house, but all Vanya could feel was the steady, familiar warmth of her brother’s embrace.

The moment Kunal opened his arms, Vanya ran to him, throwing herself into his hold like it had been years since they’d last seen each other, even though only a few weeks had passed.

Yash stood at a distance, eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the scene. Behind him, Aarav, Avni, and Reyansh remained haunted by the dying screams of the burning man, the sound fading as the flames consumed the last of him. Avni’s face paled as she took in the sight of the nine bodies scattered around them, three of which were little more than charred remains.

A wave of nausea rolled over her, and she instinctively reached for Aarav’s hand, seeking comfort. Aarav noticed the beads of sweat forming on her forehead and squeezed her hand tightly. "Go sit in the car," he whispered gently, his eyes not leaving the wreckage. "We’ll be there in a few minutes."

Avni shook her head, refusing to leave his side. She couldn’t—not when the world felt so dangerous.

Reyansh, noticing her discomfort, silently moved in front of her, blocking her view of the carnage. Avni kept her gaze fixed on Reyansh’s back , her grip on Aarav’s hand never loosening, finding silent protection in the way they stood together.
      
Vanya clung to Kunal, her arms wrapped tightly around him, her tear-filled eyes buried in his chest. Kunal held her just as tightly, but his gaze never left Yash, who stood a few steps behind Vanya and in front of Kunal, silent and unmoving. Kunal's eyes were hard, intense, as if searching for something in Yash’s expression.

But Yash wasn’t focused on Kunal. His eyes were locked on Vanya, more specifically, on her blistered, bleeding feet. Blood seeped from her wounds, staining the ground beneath her. His jaw clenched, frustration and concern flickering in his eyes.

Noticing Yash’s intense gaze, Kunal followed it, his own eyes dropping to Vanya’s feet. The sight of her blood snapped something inside him, and without a word, he broke the embrace, pushing Vanya gently back by her shoulders.

“Vanya” Kunal’s voice was thick with worry.

Vanya blinked, her vision blurred by tears. She tried to focus on her brother’s face, but everything seemed distant and out of reach, her emotions overwhelming her.
       
As Vanya stood in front of Kunal, he scanned her body, taking in the bruises on her arms and her blistered, bleeding feet. His brows furrowed with concern. “What happened to you? Did they do this?”

Vanya shook her head, quickly wiping away her tears. “No, I jumped out of the car, but they caught me again. It’s hard to fight in saree.”

Kunal’s worry softened into a smile at her words, and soon Aarav, Reyansh, and even Avni followed with relieved chuckles. But Yash remained silent, his expression hard, unreadable.