MARRIED 'SINGLES'

EMOTIONS

Happy reading...

Mahir sat on the edge of the couch, his eyes glued to his phone as he reread the message Pratham had sent in their group chat. His brow furrowed with concern, and his fingers tightened around the phone.

The news of Ruhaan’s grandfather passing away weighed heavily on him, and he felt a familiar pang of worry for his friend. The atmosphere in the room shifted as Bela, noticing the tension in his body, gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Mahir, what’s wrong?” Bela asked softly, her voice full of concern.

Without saying a word, Mahir handed her his phone. Bela read the message quickly, her eyes widening with shock.

"Oh no... Ruhaan’s grandfather passed away?" She gasped, her hand covering her mouth. The sadness in her voice mirrored Mahir’s growing concern.

Mahir sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back.

“I think we should hold off on sharing the good news for now," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Ruhaan needs all the support he can get right now. It wouldn’t feel right to talk about anything else.”

Bela, still processing the news, nodded in agreement. “You’re right. He needs time to grieve, and we need to be there for him.”

She paused for a moment, then added, “I’m sure Pratham’s taking care of him. He’s the only one who can handle Ruhaan when he’s like this.”

Mahir shook his head, frustration seeping into his expression.

“Pratham can handle him, but you know Ruhaan. He’s not someone who’ll just accept help easily. He’s probably drowning in his grief, and the last thing he needs is someone trying to console him. He won’t listen. Not now.” His voice was edged with sadness, and his eyes were distant, clearly worried about his friend.

Bela reached out, placing her hand gently on Mahir’s cheek, trying to bring him some comfort.

“I understand,” she said softly. “But we have to trust that Pratham knows what to do. Ruhaan is in good hands.”

Mahir exhaled sharply, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“Maybe… but then there’s this other thing.” His voice lowered, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to say it. “Sameer’s back.”

The mention of Sameer’s name seemed to darken Mahir’s mood further. His face hardened, and his jaw clenched tightly. Bela could see the sudden shift in his demeanor and was taken aback by the intensity in his eyes.

“Sameer?” she repeated, confusion coloring her voice. “Who’s Sameer?”

Mahir closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath before answering.

“He’s Ruhaan’s stepbrother. Or at least, he used to be.” His tone was bitter, laced with unresolved emotions.

Bela frowned, unsure why Mahir seemed so upset. “Stepbrother? Oh, so like an elder brother then?”

Mahir let out a scoff, shaking his head. “No, not ‘like a brother.’ Stepbrother. There’s a difference.” His voice grew sharper, more tense. “If he were a real brother, he wouldn’t have left Ruhaan when he needed him the most. He abandoned him, Bela. Chose his career over family, and left Ruhaan to fend for himself. If it weren’t for Pratham… God knows what would’ve happened to Ruhaan back then.”