Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter- 37

Ayan stepped into Meera’s room, the air thick with quiet sorrow. The bedside table was cluttered with a messy first-aid kit, but Ayan’s attention quickly moved toward the balcony, where Meera lay curled on a makeshift bed, wrapped in a blanket, her gaze lost in the night sky.

He exhaled softly, relieved she had showered and treated her injuries—small signs of strength amidst the storm. He walked toward her and sank onto the edge of the bed, brushing his fingers gently over her shoulder.

"Meera," he whispered, his voice low and intimate.

She shifted toward him without hesitation, pulling him under the blanket with her, as if needing him close to breathe. Ayan slid his arm around her waist, fitting himself to her side, and she melted into him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

For a moment, she was silent, just breathing him in, her tears slipping quietly onto his skin. Ayan’s heart clenched at the brokenness in her. He hated seeing her like this, but he knew better than to offer platitudes. Sometimes, grief just needed space to exist.

"I feel like I’m falling apart," Meera whispered, her voice raw and unsteady.

Ayan pressed a kiss to her temple, his fingers trailing gently down her arm. "Then let it fall apart," he murmured. "You don’t have to hold everything together, Meera. Not with me."

Her grip on him tightened, her body trembling with silent sobs she could no longer contain. Ayan held her closer, letting her cry against him, absorbing the weight of her pain.

"I don’t know what to do anymore," she admitted after a while, her voice barely audible.

"You don’t have to figure it all out tonight," Ayan whispered, his thumb tracing soothing circles on her back. "Just let this moment be what it is."

"Ayan…" Her voice wavered. "What if I never stop feeling like this?"

"Then I’ll keep being here," he answered simply, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "For as long as you need me."

Meera searched his gaze, and in the dim light, Ayan saw the flicker of trust that still lingered in her, despite everything. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, a gesture that held no urgency—only warmth and quiet reassurance.

"Meera," he murmured, brushing his knuckles along her cheek, "don’t you think you need to talk to Rahul? He’s blaming himself for everything. He thinks he failed you."

Her eyes clouded with guilt. "He didn’t. He was the only one who stood by me."

"Exactly," Ayan said softly. "But you need to tell him that. He’ll carry this weight if you don’t."

Meera exhaled shakily. "You’re right. I’ll go talk to him now."

Ayan smiled softly, brushing her hair back. "Yes, you should."

She held his gaze for a moment, drawing strength from the quiet certainty in his eyes.

"Thank you, Ayan," she whispered.

He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I’ll be here when you get back."

Meera gave a small nod, her fingers briefly squeezing his, then slipped out from under the blanket. As she stepped toward the door, Ayan’s eyes followed her, knowing that, piece by piece, she was finding her way back.

--------------------

Virat stepped out by the pool, where Rahul stood motionless, staring at the water as if searching for answers. Virat leaned on the railing beside him, silent for a moment before speaking.

"Pani thanda hai, kud mat jana," Virat quipped, his tone light but not careless.

Rahul shot him a sidelong glance. "What are you even saying?"

Virat smirked. "You were looking at the pool like it was calling you. Thought maybe you were considering a dive."

Rahul exhaled a tired breath, his lips tugging into the ghost of a smile. "It’s not the water, Virat."

"I figured," Virat said, his voice softer now. "So, what’s eating you?"

Rahul shifted, folding his arms across his chest. "It’s Meera... I can’t stop thinking about everything she’s been through. And I keep asking myself if I did enough. If I could’ve stopped it."

Virat watched him closely, letting the words sink in. "Rahuliya, you know as well as I do that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things still go wrong. That’s life. It’s not your fault."

"But it feels like it is," Rahul murmured, his voice heavy with guilt. "I should’ve seen it coming. Should’ve done more to protect her."

Virat shook his head, resting a hand on Rahul’s shoulder. "You can’t protect someone from everything. What matters is that you stayed by her side. You're still here, and that means more than you think."

Rahul shook his head. "But what if being here isn't enough? What if I didn’t do enough back when it mattered Bhaiya?"

Virat crossed his arms, leaning against the railing beside him. "You know, you and I—we’re always trying to fix things. But sometimes people don’t need fixing. They just need us to be there. Meera knows you’re here, and she knows you care. That's what matters."

Rahul stared at the water, his jaw tight. "She’s been through so much, man. And I wasn’t even there to stop it. I keep thinking... what if I let her down without even realizing it?"

Virat placed a hand on Rahul’s shoulder, squeezing it firmly. "Listen to me. You can't carry everything on your shoulders, Rahul. Meera doesn’t need a perfect brother—just the one who loves her."

Virat placed a firm hand on Rahul’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Listen to me. You can’t carry everything on your shoulders, Rahul. Meera doesn’t need a perfect brother—just the one who loves her."

That was all it took. Rahul pulled Virat into a tight hug, and Virat patted his back, steady and warm. Without a word, Virat guided him to sit by the edge of the pool, but instead of sitting, Rahul lay down with his head resting on Virat’s lap.

Virat chuckled softly but ran his fingers through Rahul’s hair, the motion slow and comforting.

"Do you think she blames me for all this?" Rahul asked quietly, the vulnerability in his voice unmistakable.

Before Virat could respond, Meera’s voice cut through the night. "Only an idiot like you would think that."

Both men turned to see Meera standing there, her blanket trailing behind her. Virat grinned, sensing it was time to give them space, and began to stand.

But before he could leave, Meera plopped down beside him, resting her head on his lap in the opposite direction.

"Betho aap," the siblings chorused, their voices synchronized in a way that made Virat laugh.

Shaking his head, Virat settled back in, his hands resting atop both their heads. "I swear," he muttered with a grin, "you two are impossible."