Guardian

-:chapter 30:-

Arnav sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers gently caressing the photo in his hand,the only photo he had of himself with Avyansh. A deep ache settled in his chest as he stared at it, wishing desperately that he could turn back time. Just when his younger brother had started to open up to him, just when Avyansh had begun to talk to him, even if only a little, the boy had been kidnapped.

It felt like life had cheated him twice. First, he missed the first five years of Avyansh's life. He hadn't even known he had a brother back then. After their parents' bitter divorce, their father had gained custody of him, and he hadn't seen his mother for five years. At the time, he had believed his father's words,that his mother had abandoned him. Like a fool, he had refused to speak to her when she tried to reach out.

It was only years later that the truth unraveled: his mother had never left him. She had fought to see him, but their father had kept her away. When he finally reunited with her, he learned of Avyansh's existence. The first time he saw him, the little boy was quiet, withdrawn, and unresponsive to the world around him. Their mother had to do everything for him-feed him, dress him, even speak for him. She had explained that Avyansh had been in an accident, though she didn't share much more than that.

Arnav had made it his mission to bring his little brother out of his shell. After months of patience and effort, Avyansh had started to talk a little. They had begun to forge a bond, however fragile it was. Avyansh's love for music had been the breakthrough, a shared passion that allowed them to connect. And then, just when things had started to fall into place, Avyansh was taken from them.

The memory of those days haunted Arnav. His mother had been devastated, broken beyond repair. So was he. It was a pain that lingered even now, nine years later. How much his mother had wanted to see Avyansh again, to hold him, to know he was safe. She had passed away with that yearning still in her heart, and he carried the weight of her unfulfilled wish.

Now, Avyansh was back-but not with him. He was with Abhimanyu. Arnav didn't know how Abhimanyu had ended up with Avyansh, and he didn't want to know. He refused to face that man again, let alone ask him for answers. The thought of Abhimanyu made his blood boil.

Yet, despite his anger, Arnav couldn't ignore the truth. Taking Avyansh away wouldn't be easy. Abhimanyu had immense influence, and more importantly, Avyansh seemed deeply attached to him. The boy's bond with Abhimanyu was undeniable, and Arnav could see it. He knew the pain of being torn away from someone you love, of losing the one person who feels like home. He had lived that pain himself.

But he also couldn't leave Avyansh with Abhimanyu. For his mother's sake, for his own sake, he had to bring his brother back. He had to.

The road ahead wouldn't be easy. He knew that much. But for his mother's memory and for the chance to finally give Avyansh the life their mother had always dreamed of, he would face whatever came his way.

Adhya stood in the living room, her arms crossed over her chest, watching in disbelief as Abhimanyu rushed up the stairs for what felt like the hundredth time. The man was behaving like a typical Indian mother, she thought. The boy was just going for a picnic, not a war!

She turned to Avyansh, who was still trying to keep his smile in check, trying to look patient despite the chaotic overprotectiveness of his Bhaiya. “Your brother has gone crazy, Avy,” Adhya said with a mock serious expression, though her voice carried an amused tone.

Avyansh could only chuckle, his smile widening as he watched his Bhaiya rush back down the stairs with yet another item. It had become a running joke at this point. First, it was water bottles, then an extra jacket, then some sunscreen, and now—here he was again.