Yaara

9) Fractured bonds

The golden light of dawn crept through the curtains of the Kashyap Mansion, but the warmth in the air couldn't mask the underlying tension that had been brewing for days. Despite Rudra's attempts to maintain peace, Ishu and Rey's wariness toward Shivansh only grew stronger. Shaurya's charm and calm demeanor had momentarily lifted Shiv's spirits, but even that couldn't quell the storm on the horizon.

In Shiv's Room

The morning sun bathed Shiv's room in a soft glow, but his heart was heavy with guilt. Shaurya, as promised, had come to check on him again, bringing with him a sense of warmth and ease that Shiv hadn't felt in a while.

Shaurya smiled as he sat by Shiv's bedside, bringing a cup of warm herbal tea for him.

Shaurya: "Here, Rockstar. This should help with the recovery. I made sure it's not too strong—don't worry, I didn't sneak any of bhaiya's protein powder in there."

Shiv chuckled softly, wincing as he adjusted himself on the bed.

Shiv: "Thanks, Shaurya. You're making me feel like royalty here."

Shaurya: "Oh, just wait until I convince Pihu to knight you in her royal court. Then you'll be officially part of the Kashyap clan."

Shiv laughed, though the moment of lightness quickly faded as his thoughts drifted back to Rudra's brothers.

Shiv: "You know, Shaurya, your brothers... Ishu and Rey... they don't seem too happy with me being here."

Shaurya's expression softened, his easy-going demeanor turning serious for a moment.

Shaurya: "They're just overprotective of bhaiya, that's all. Don't take it to heart. They'll come around once they realize you're not here to steal him away."

Shiv sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Shiv: "I don't want to come between them. The last thing I want is for Rudra's family to be torn apart because of me."

Shaurya's eyes softened with understanding. He reached out and clasped Shiv's shoulder gently.

Shaurya: "You're not coming between anyone, Rockstar. Bhaiya loves his brothers, and he cares about you too. It's just going to take some time for everyone to adjust. But trust me, we're all in this together."

Shiv nodded, but the worry lingered in his eyes.

Later That Morning – In the Living Room

The peaceful morning didn't last long. Downstairs, Ishu and Rey were standing near the entrance to the living room, their expressions dark with frustration. They had spent the night mulling over the growing closeness between Rudra and Shiv, and it was clear they had reached a breaking point.

Ishu, unable to contain his jealousy any longer, spoke in a low voice to Rey.

Ishu: "This can't keep going on, Rey. Bhaiya's acting like we don't even exist anymore."

Rey, equally as frustrated, nodded in agreement.

Rey: "I know. And Shiv's just sitting in our house, acting like he belongs here. We need to confront him."

Without waiting for further discussion, they stormed upstairs toward Shiv's room, their emotions boiling over.

In Shiv's Room

Shiv was resting when Ishu and Rey barged into the room, their faces tight with anger. Startled, Shiv sat up, confusion written on his face.

Shiv: "Ishu, Rey... What's wrong?"

Rey didn't bother with pleasantries. His voice was sharp and accusatory.

Rey: "What's wrong? What's wrong is you! Ever since you showed up, Bhaiya's been acting like we don't matter. You've changed everything."