𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-15

Bhabhi: Elder brother's wife.

-*-*-

Morning sunlight streamed through the glass panels of the living room, casting a warm glow across the space.

Rudraksh sat on the brown sofa, leaning forward. His blue woolen night pajamas were slightly rumpled from sleep. His hands were interlocked, elbows resting on his parted knees. He chewed his lips, staring at some infinite point, the skin around the edges raw and red, with tiny droplets of blood where he had bitten too hard.

"Vardhamana, my boy! Start the procedure."

Rudraksh's eyes snapped upward at the sound of Dr. Choudhary's firm, yet gentle voice. He straightened his back and ran his tongue over his lips. The metallic taste of blood, mixed with the saltiness of sweat, twisted his mouth.

"Bhaiya..." Vardhamana's hands trembled around the scissors, his fingers tightening on the metal as he took hesitant steps toward Rudraksh.

Rudraksh shifted slightly, meeting his brother's gaze. His eyes lingered on Vardhamana's throat as he swallowed hard. "You okay, Vardhamana?"

Vardhamana nodded, his eyes drifting to the six stitches marking Rudraksh's forehead above his left eyebrow. "Don't worry, Bhaiya," he said, trying to sound confident. "It'll only sting a little, okay? Don't worry. I'm with you."

A smirk tugged at Rudraksh's lips. "I'm worrying about you, my baby brother," he teased in a low voice.

Vardhamana's eyebrows furrowed in response.

Rudraksh chuckled and went on teasing him. "I heard you passed out after seeing a cadaver in the anatomy lab?"

The scissors slipped from Vardhamana's fingers, landing on the sofa with a soft clatter.

Rudraksh's stifled laugh filled the air as he handed the scissors back to his brother. "Careful, Doctor Sahab."

"Careful, Vardhamana. Focus," Dr. Choudhary advised firmly.

Vardhamana nodded sharply and, with careful precision, began removing the stitches.

Rudraksh's eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, face tightened at the sting as Vardhamana gently pulled the threads from his skin.

Anusuiya hurried toward them, her wide, Kajal-traced eyes flickering between her sons, the red Banarasi saree she wore rustling with each urgent step.

A servant followed closely behind, balancing a tray laden with steaming tea, fresh fruits, sweets, and biscuits.

"Namaste, Bhai Sahab!" she greeted the doctor with a polite smile, though her gaze lingered on her sons before returning to him.

Dr. Choudhary returned the greeting, his smile warm and familiar. "Namaste, namaste, Bhabhi ji!"

"Shh!"

Rudraksh's sudden hiss made Anusuiya startle. "Be careful, Vardhamana!" she snapped.

Every face turned toward her.

Anusuiya's gaze darted around the room, meeting the eyes of her sons and Dr. Choudhary. She forced a nervous laugh and added quickly, "I-I mean, Rudraksh is in pain, beta. Pull the threads slowly, hmm?"