Guardian

-:chapter 25:-

Avyansh found himself once again immersed in the same dream-The air around him was heavy, filled with an eerie silence that was occasionally broken by the faint sound of muffled sobs. He scanned the room, and then he saw, the same young boy, small and innocent, standing beside an older man who seemed both strong and burdened. The young boy's face was streaked with tears, his small body trembling as he clung to the elder man's hand.

"Bhaiya kaha hai? Aapko toh pata hoga na, madhav uncle?" the young boy whimpered, his voice shaky and laden with heartbreak. "Hum unke paas jaate hain na, please," he begged, his eyes wide and pleading, glistening with hope.

The elder man whom the little boy called madhav looked equally distraught, his face marked with sorrow as he kneeled to comfort the boy. He gently wiped the little one's tears with trembling hands, his own eyes brimming. "Tumhare bhaiya ajayenge beta... par ab hume yahan se jaana hoga," he murmured, though his voice faltered, betraying his uncertainty.

The boy shook his head, clutching madhav's hand even tighter. "Par kab aayenge woh? Dar lag raha hai mujhe," he sobbed, fear etched in his young, innocent face. "Apko pata hai, unhe chot bhi lagi thi forehead pe... unhone dawai bhi nahi lagayi....agar main aisa karta toh kitta dantte mujhe woh."

Madhav gently cupped the boy's face, nodding solemnly. "Achha, tumhare bhaiya aayenge toh hum dono milkar bohot dantenge usse... thik hai?" he said, forcing a comforting smile for the boy's sake.

The little one wiped his eyes, managing a faint smile of his own, but his voice remained small and hesitant. "Zyada mat dantna, par..." he whispered.

The elder man's eyes softened with a brief glimmer of affection. "Bas ab rona band karo." he soothed, wiping the last of the boy's tears with a gentle touch. He took the boy's hand firmly. "Chalo, yahan se chalte hain."

The two of them turned to leave, but the silence was abruptly shattered by the sharp sound of glass breaking, followed by a heavy thud echoing through the room. The man's face went pale as he spun toward the sound, his eyes wide with fear. Before they could react, the door was kicked open, and a man barged in, his face twisted with a cruel smirk, a glinting gun in his hand.

A second man followed, his expression just as menacing. Madhav's heart raced as he instinctively moved to shield the young boy behind him, bracing himself against the intruders. He tried to fight them off, but there were four of them, each as ruthless as the next. Madhav struggled, but they overpowered him, forcing him back as he gritted his teeth in defiance.

One of the men looked down at the young boy, who was now cowering, his terrified eyes fixed on the intruders. "Aree re re, bacche akele ho gaye ho?" the man sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Dar lag raha hai?" he taunted, holding the gun close to the boy's face, his finger tracing its cold barrel near the boy's cheek.

The little boy whimpered, his body rigid with fear, as he cried out, "Madhav uncle!"

"Leave him you bastard "Madhav struggled, shouting, desperate to reach the boy, but he was held down by the other men. The boy's cries grew louder as he desperately called for help.

Just as the man holding the gun prepared to strike, a swift kick landed on his side, sending him stumbling. The boy looked up through his tears to see another figure-a teenager with fierce, determined eyes, standing protectively between him and the attackers. The boy's teary eyes widened in shock and relief.

"Bhaiya!" the little boy cried, his voice breaking as he clung to the sight of his older brother.

The older boy's gaze softened for a split second as he looked at his little brother, but he quickly turned back to the intruders, his expression hardening. He threw himself into the fight with fierce resolve, exchanging blows with one of the attackers, and after a struggle, managed to wrestle the gun from him. He held it, pointing it squarely at the man's forehead, his stance unwavering.