Our Hearts Woven Together: Bond of Siblings

The Touch of Fear

Tara ran through the crowd, her lehenga rustling against the marble floor as she followed Maan. The music from the Mehendi ceremony became a distant hum as her pulse quickened. She saw Maan disappear around the corner into the garden, his figure barely visible under the dim glow of the fairy lights.

Her mind raced with fear. What was Samar planning? Why had he come back now, in the middle of Shivendra and Raghavendra’s pre-wedding festivities? She shivered at the memory of the poisoned juice and the fever that had left her bedridden for days. Maan had been right to stay vigilant, but now he was walking into danger alone.

Tara reached the garden, her breath coming in soft, quick gasps. Maan was standing a few meters away, his back tense, fists clenched as he stared at Samar, who leaned against a tree casually, his expression smug and taunting.

"You're a hard man to keep away from, Maanvendra," Samar said with a sneer. "But then again, you're not the only one protecting her." His eyes shifted to Tara, who had just caught up to her brother.

Maan moved in front of Tara instinctively, his protective instincts kicking in. "What do you want, Samar?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Samar’s smile widened. "Oh, nothing much. Just here to congratulate your brothers on their upcoming wedding. Isn’t that what friends do?" His mocking tone sent a chill through Tara.

"We both know you’re not here to celebrate," Maan spat. "Stay away from Tara. If you try anything again—"

"Again?" Samar interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "I don’t remember trying anything before. Your dear sister must have had an unfortunate accident with her drink." He chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with malice. "But since you brought it up, maybe I’m here to finish what I started."

Tara’s heart skipped a beat. She stepped forward, her fear momentarily replaced by anger. "Why? What have I ever done to you? Why are you doing this?"

Samar's eyes darkened. "It’s not about what you've done. It’s about what you represent. You and your perfect little family. Shiv and Raghav think they can have it all, don’t they? Power, wealth, respect. But they forgot that people like me, people they stepped on to get where they are, don’t just disappear."

Maan narrowed his eyes. "This is about some twisted grudge? So you're targeting Tara to hurt Shiv and Raghu?"

Samar’s smirk returned. "It’s not just a grudge, Maanvendra. Sorry what they call you Kunwar Maanvendra..
It’s payback. They’ve built their empire on broken promises, and you think I’ll just let that slide?" He took a step closer, his eyes flickering with danger. "The way I see it, your family deserves to lose something precious. And Tara—"

Before Samar could finish his sentence, Maan lunged at him, grabbing his collar. His fists trembled with fury. "You so much as breathe near her again, and I’ll make sure you regret it."

Samar didn’t flinch. Instead, he laughed, a harsh, cold sound that echoed through the quiet garden. "You think threats will stop me? I know you won’t hurt me. You’re too noble, too moral to do what’s necessary."

Tara stepped forward, her voice steady, though her hands trembled. "You don’t know my brother, Samar. And you don’t know me. If you think you can scare us or break us, you’re wrong. We’ve been through worse, and we’re still standing."

Samar’s smile faltered slightly, but the venom in his eyes remained. He pushed Maan’s hands off his collar, straightening his shirt with deliberate slowness. "Maybe. But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot."

He turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing into the darkness beyond the garden. Tara and Maan stood frozen for a moment, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Maan’s breathing was ragged, his hands still clenched into fists as if he was trying to contain his rage.

Tara placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "Maan... he’s gone. Let him go."

Maan closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm inside him. After a moment, he opened them and looked at his sister. "We need to tell Shiv and Raghav bro. They need to know what he’s planning."

Tara nodded, though she could feel the weight of the situation settling on her shoulders. "But not tonight, Maan. Not during their pre-wedding functions. Let’s wait until tomorrow. We don’t want to ruin their happiness."

Maan hesitated, his protective instincts warring with his desire to keep the celebration intact. Finally, he agreed. "Alright. But we’ll keep an eye on everything. We can’t take any chances."

---

Back inside the mansion, the Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies continued in full swing. The guests were dancing, laughing, and enjoying the festivities, unaware of the tension that had unfolded outside.

Tara and Maan rejoined the gathering, their faces calm, though their hearts still pounded with unease. They exchanged glances, silently agreeing to keep watch over each other and their family. Samar’s words lingered like a dark cloud over the evening, but for now, they would focus on Shiv and Raghav's joy.

As the night wore on, Tara found herself sitting by Ashna and Surili, their hands still adorned with Mehendi. Ashna noticed Tara’s quiet demeanor and leaned over, concern flickering in her eyes.

"Tara, are you alright? You seem... distant."

Tara forced a smile. "I’m fine, Ashna bhabhi Just thinking about the wedding. So much to do, so little time."

Ashna chuckled. "Don’t worry. Everything will be perfect. Shiv and Raghav are lucky to have you and Maan looking out for them."

Tara nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Maan, standing by the door, caught her eye. His expression was the same—determined, vigilant, and ready for whatever Samar might throw their way.

But for tonight, they would celebrate. The real battle could wait until tomorrow.