Our Hearts Woven Together: Bond of Siblings

Flames of Affection

The night after the engagement party was restless in the royal palace. Shivendra and Raghavendra, consumed with guilt and rage, could barely sleep after the incident. Samar had disappeared, leaving them with questions that only deepened their suspicions. But now, their concern had turned entirely to their sister, Tara, who had taken a turn for the worse.

In her chamber, Tara lay on the bed, her body drenched in sweat, and her breathing shallow. Her delicate frame seemed even more fragile as she writhed under the weight of a fever that showed no signs of abating. Beside her sat Maanvendra, her twin brother, who hadn’t left her side since the symptoms began. His face was pale with worry, his deep blue eyes mirroring the pain he felt seeing his sister in such distress.

“Maan,” Tara whispered weakly, barely able to open her eyes, “I’m so cold.”

Maan gently wiped her forehead with a damp cloth, his heart sinking as he felt the heat radiating from her skin. He gripped her hand, trying to comfort her, but there was no mistaking the terror in his eyes. “You’ll be alright, Toru. Just hold on. The physician is doing everything he can.”

Tara’s lips trembled as she tried to smile through the pain. “I don’t… I don’t understand what happened. I was fine… then… everything went dark.”

Maan’s throat tightened as he stroked her curls away from her face. “It doesn’t matter now. We’ll find out what happened, but first, you need to rest. I won’t leave you, Toru. I promise.”

As the hours passed, Tara’s fever only worsened. Maan sat beside her, holding her hand, his fingers tracing soothing circles on her palm as she slipped in and out of consciousness. His mind raced, guilt gnawing at him for not being there to protect her sooner.

In the quiet of the room, he whispered, “You’ve always been the strongest of us, Tara. Even when we were children… you’d take care of all of us. But now, it’s my turn. I’m going to protect you, just like you’ve protected me.”

Tara, delirious from the fever, barely registered his words, her mind lost in feverish dreams. “Maan... I’m scared...” she mumbled, her voice shaking.

Maan’s chest tightened, and he leaned closer, his voice gentle but firm. “Don’t be scared, Tara. I’m right here. You’re safe. You’ll get through this.”

Outside the room, Shivendra and Raghavendra paced anxiously in the corridor. The royal physician had been in and out all night, trying every remedy he could think of, but the fever remained stubborn. The brothers exchanged worried glances, both silently blaming themselves for not seeing Samar’s treachery.

“We need to find Samar,” Shivendra said through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained. “Whatever he did to her, he’s the only one who can fix this.”

Raghavendra nodded, his face grim. “I already sent the guards to search for him, but he’s vanished. No one’s seen him since the party.”

Shivendra punched the wall in frustration. “I won’t forgive him for this. If anything happens to Tara…”

Raghavendra placed a hand on Shiv’s shoulder, his voice filled with determination. “She’ll be fine. She has to be. Maan’s with her, and we’ll make sure the best care is given to her.”

Inside the room, Maan’s heart ached as he watched his sister’s body tremble under the weight of the fever. He could feel her slipping away, and the thought terrified him. He couldn’t lose her—not like this. He leaned in close, pressing his forehead against hers, feeling the burning heat of her skin against his.

“Toru,” he whispered, his voice breaking, “you’ve always been my strength. Don’t leave me now. Please…”

Tara’s hand weakly squeezed his, as if she could sense his pain even in her feverish state. Her lips parted as she murmured, “I’m trying, Maan… but it’s so hard.”

Tears welled up in Maan’s eyes, but he blinked them away, refusing to break down. He had to stay strong for her, just like she had always been strong for him. He continued to wipe her forehead, his fingers trembling slightly as he prayed silently for her recovery.

After what felt like an eternity, the physician returned with a fresh batch of herbal remedies. He moved quickly, administering the new concoction with steady hands, his face drawn with concern.

“I’ve done everything I can,” the physician said, his voice low as he addressed Maan. “The rest… the rest is up to her strength.”

Maan nodded, his jaw tight as he watched the physician leave the room. He turned back to Tara, his heart pounding with fear and desperation.

“Toru,” he whispered again, his voice barely audible. “You have to fight this. You’re stronger than this fever. I know you are.”

Tara’s breathing was shallow, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. Her fevered state had stolen her usual vibrancy, leaving her looking more fragile than ever. But even in her delirium, she could feel the presence of her twin brother, the bond between them unbreakable.

Maan continued to sit by her side, never letting go of her hand, as the night stretched on. Shivendra and Raghavendra remained outside, their hearts heavy with worry, as they too prayed for their sister’s recovery.

Hours passed, and as dawn broke through the windows, there was a small change in Tara’s condition. Her fever, though still high, seemed to stabilize slightly, and her breathing became less labored. Maan’s eyes, red from lack of sleep, filled with cautious hope.

“Toru,” he said softly, brushing his hand over her forehead, “you’re going to make it. I can feel it.”

Tara’s eyes fluttered open just a fraction, her gaze finding Maan’s through the haze of her illness. She managed a faint smile, her voice weak but filled with love. “I’m not going anywhere, Maan. I promise.”

Maan let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, relief flooding through him. “Good,” he said, his voice shaking with emotion. “Because I’m not ready to let you go.”

The bond between them was undeniable, and even in her weakened state, Tara’s strength shone through. She had always been the light of their family, and Maan knew that no matter how dark things got, she would always find her way back to them.