The Silent Bond

✨Chapter - 30✨

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Arjun was looking at Anu as if he was searching for something—anything—in his brother's eyes. But Anu's gaze held steady, fierce and unshaken. His eyes screamed only one thing: the truth.

Anu turned his face towards Arjun, then shifted briefly to Shivansh before declaring again, firmly, "Haan bhai, maine hi Kasturi ke saath milke us Devraj ke godown mein aag laga di."

Arjun froze for a second, the words cutting into him. Then he couldn't hold himself back any longer. In two strides, he was in front of Anu. His hands shot out and gripped Anu's arms, twisting him slightly to face him fully. His grip was so tight it almost hurt, but Anu didn't flinch.

Arjun's voice was low but trembling with fury and desperation. "Sach bol Anurag! Har baat, bina kuch chupaye. Mujhe sirf ek bar, sirf ek bar woh sach sunna hain jo sirf tu bata sakta hain."

Anu looked back into his brother's eyes—storm meeting storm. He knew there was no escaping anymore.

No one moved. The hall had gone deadly quiet; every pair of eyes was fixed on Anurag. They all knew—only Arjun could make him speak the whole truth.

Arjun's voice was low, furious, controlled.
"Anurag, main tumse kuch pooch raha hoon. Ya to sach bolo, ya..."
He stopped himself, the unsaid threat hanging like a blade in the air.

Anu read his brother's silence perfectly. He understood what Arjun would do if he lied—what pain he would willingly inflict. For a second the world narrowed to the two of them: a brother who demanded truth, and a brother who had kept it at terrible cost.

Anu looked around once, meeting faces he loved and feared losing. Then he let his eyes climb back to Arjun. There was no point hiding now.

Anu, looking down, voice breaking: "Bhaiya, maine aapse ek bohot bada sach chhupaya hai."

Abhi's voice trembled with worry.
"Aisa kya chhupa raha hai Anu? Sach batao humein please..."

Arjun raised a hand to silence him. His command cut through the room:
"Now only Anurag will speak and we only listen. Aur haan, nazare niche mat jhukana Anurag Singhania. Itna toh pata hai tu kuch galat nahi karega — aur jab tu kuch galat nahi kar raha, toh inhe jhukne bhi mat dena."

Anu nodded once, swallowed, and began—each word a small rupture.
"Bhaiya... yeh sab saat saal pehle shuru hua tha."

Flashback

Ten-year-old Anurag and Kasturi were in the back seat of the car, their bickering a constant hum that filled the quiet night. Up front, their Nanu, Suryapratap, was behind the wheel, his face a grim mask of regret. The formal party had been an obligation, one he had to attend without his wife, who was unwell. Taking the children had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, at midnight, with their endless arguments filling the car, he was beginning to have second thoughts.