Dreams Unfold

CHAPTER 3

                             ***

The room was a mess of half-packed suitcases, scattered clothes, books, and miscellaneous items that Sanvi would need for her journey to college. She sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through her things, while Siddharth stood nearby, meticulously folding her clothes and making sure everything fit properly in the bags.

"Sanvi, you're terrible at this!" Siddharth said with a huff, shaking his head as he refolded a stack of t-shirts she had just carelessly tossed into the suitcase. "Do you want to arrive at college looking like you've just pulled these clothes out of a laundry basket?"

Sanvi laughed, her voice light, trying to mask her own nervousness. "Relax, bhaiya! It's just packing. I can manage."

Siddharth gave her a sideways glance, rolling his eyes. "Manage? You've already forgotten half your stuff. Did you even pack your toiletries? What about your phone charger? And your textbooks?"

Sanvi groaned, rubbing her head. "Bhaiya, I've got it all under control!"

"No, you don't!" Siddharth scolded, digging through the piles of clothes. "Here, put these shoes in a separate bag. And make sure you don't leave your documents behind. If you forget those, I'm not driving across states to bring them to you."

Sanvi watched him with a smile, feeling warmth at how carefully he was checking everything. He was always like this-constantly worrying about her, making sure she didn't miss anything. But today, his voice had a tinge of something different, something softer.

As he stuffed more clothes into her suitcase, Sanvi caught a glimpse of his face. He was quiet, unusually so. His brow was furrowed, and his eyes held a heaviness she hadn't seen in a while.

"You okay, bhaiya?" she asked gently.

Siddharth paused for a moment, his hands still. He took a deep breath, his voice quieter now. "I'm just... making sure you've got everything."

Sanvi stood up, walking over to him. "That's not all, is it?"

Siddharth sighed, sitting down on the bed and resting his elbows on his knees. He glanced at her, the usual teasing smile absent from his face. "I'm gonna miss you, Sanvi. It feels... weird, you know? You've always been here with me. Now, you're going to be far away, in another state... I won't be there to make sure you eat or get up on time." His voice wavered slightly, betraying the emotions he was trying to keep in check.

Sanvi's heart tightened as she listened. She had been trying to push away the thought of leaving her brother, of stepping out into the world without him by her side. But hearing him say it made everything feel real.

"Bhaiya, don't worry," she said, forcing a smile as she sat beside him. "I'm not going that far. We'll talk every day. And I'll come back for holidays, and we'll still fight over who gets the remote."

Siddharth chuckled softly, but there was a glint of sadness in his eyes. "I know. It's just... you've been my responsibility ever since we lost mom and dad. I've always looked out for you. Now you're all grown up, going off to college, and I-" he paused, swallowing hard. "I feel like I'm letting go of a part of me."

Sanvi's chest ached at his words, but she didn't want to show how much it affected her. Instead, she nudged him playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Bhaiya, you make it sound like I'm moving to the moon or something. I'll be back before you even know it. And who knows? Maybe you'll enjoy the peace and quiet without me yelling at you to make me pancakes every morning."

Siddharth smiled faintly, but his eyes were still glassy. "Yeah, but it won't be the same without you here. You're... you're a piece of my heart, Sanvi."