Forbidden Mania | 18+

15.

Author's Pov>>
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Arsh stood outside the towering gates of his elder brother Raghav's mansion, an unsettling chill crawling down his spine as he glanced at the looming structure ahead. The sprawling estate, dimly lit under the hazy moonlight, seemed darker than he remembered.

A strange foreboding clung to the air, but he brushed it aside. Raghav was his elder brother, the man who had always protected him. There was no reason to feel uneasy... right?

Pushing the gate open, Arsh strode inside, his boots clicking against the stone path. As he stepped into the grand hall, he stopped short, his breath catching.

The room was blanketed in silence, but what caught his attention were the large, draped canvases lining the walls. The paintings were covered in heavy black cloth, concealing their subjects, though faint outlines of figures could be discerned.

The sight was bizarre, almost theatrical, and the air seemed to thrum with a quiet intensity.

Curiosity got the better of him. He approached one of the drapes, hand reaching out tentatively.

"Don't."

The voice was sharp, commanding, and echoed through the cavernous hall. Arsh froze mid-motion, turning to find Raghav standing at the entrance, his plastered arm resting in a sling, his face shadowed.

"What are you doing?" Raghav's tone was clipped, his eyes narrowing as he approached with measured steps.

Arsh blinked, his hand falling to his side. "I... I was just curious. Why are all these paintings covered? What are you hiding?"

Raghav stepped closer, his face a mask of calm, though there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes.

"These paintings are for my eyes only, Arsh. No one else can see them. Not yet."

Arsh frowned. "That's... odd, don't you think? What's so secret about a bunch of paintings?"

Raghav tilted his head, his lips curving into a faint, unnerving smile. "It's not odd, little brother. It's personal. And trust me, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it."

Arsh shifted uncomfortably. There was something almost obsessive in Raghav's tone, a possessiveness that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He decided not to press further, not when Raghav's demeanor bordered on the eerie.

"Fine, keep your secrets." Arsh muttered, stepping back. "I didn't come here to start a debate about your art."

Raghav's expression softened slightly, though the unsettling edge didn't entirely leave his gaze. "Then why are you here?"

Arsh took a deep breath, trying to shake off the strange atmosphere. "I came to share some news. Something important."

Raghav's brow arched, and for a moment, the tension in the room dissipated. "News? What kind of news?"

"I'm getting married." Arsh declared, a grin spreading across his face.

Raghav's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Married?" he repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and delight. "To that girl? Umm Miss Basu, was it?"

"Yes." Arsh nodded, his grin widening. "I proposed to her tonight. And she said yes."

Raghav's face broke into a rare, genuine smile. Despite his peculiarities, he was clearly happy for his younger brother. He stepped forward, pulling Arsh into a one-armed hug, his plastered arm resting awkwardly at his side.