ALIA-THE BURDEN

38 - Rivals

The room fell so quiet that Alia could hear her own heartbeat.

And then, a small, shaky breath broke the silence.

It was Ayaan.

Everyone turned. His phone had slipped from his hands and landed on the couch, forgotten. His eyes glistened unnaturally, his lips trembling as if he wanted to speak but couldn't. For once, the boy who always had something witty to say was utterly speechless.

"Ayaan?" Aditya asked, confused, his brows furrowing.

"Bhai..." Ayaan's voice cracked, breaking through the stillness. His words were soft, but heavy, carrying years of something unsaid. "You... cooked?"

The rawness in his tone shook the room.

Aditya stiffened, his chest tightening. He turned fully to face his younger brother. His eyes lingered on the tears threatening to spill, and for a second, his mask of control faltered.

Wordlessly, Aditya reached behind him and pulled out another identical ceramic box. He stepped forward and pressed it into Ayaan's hands. "I made yours too."

Ayaan's breath hitched. His fingers clutched the box like it was fragile, like it might break if he held it too tightly. A sound escaped his throat-a small, broken whimper that made everyone freeze.

And then he moved.

With one desperate motion, Ayaan dropped the lunch box safely onto the sofa and threw his arms around Aditya. His face buried against his brother's shoulder, his body shaking. "Bhai..." he choked, voice muffled but drenched in emotion. "You don't know... how much I missed this. How much I missed you."

It was the sight no one thought they'd see-Ayaan, loud, mischievous, endlessly confident Ayaan-crying. Not silently, not trying to hide it, but openly, shamelessly, like a child who had been holding in years of hurt.

Aditya froze at first, arms stiff at his sides. But as Ayaan's sobs grew heavier, as his shoulders trembled against him, Aditya's hand finally rose. Slowly, almost uncertainly, he placed it on the back of Ayaan's head, pulling him closer. His chin rested lightly against his brother's hair.

"I know," he whispered, his voice so low it was almost lost. His other hand pressed against Ayaan's back. "I know, Ayaan. I'm sorry."

No one moved.

Rajwant's eyes glistened, his throat working as he struggled to hold back his tears. He'd always believed his boys would find their way back to each other, but seeing it-the raw bond, the unspoken pain-was almost too much to bear. His voice broke as he murmured, "My sons... finally."

Abhiraj, normally stoic, turned his face slightly, blinking faster than usual. Raj cleared his throat loudly, as though pretending to adjust his seat, though the glassiness in his eyes betrayed him.

Rudra opened his mouth to say something teasing but shut it again almost immediately, his lips pressing together. Avinash shifted uncomfortably, clearly moved but unsure how to express it. Reyansh just watched, unreadable, though his jaw had clenched tightly-his way of keeping his emotions in check. Rivaan, beside Alia, slid a hand into his pocket, eyes dropping, quietly respectful of the moment.

And Alia... Alia was stunned. She had never seen Ayaan cry. Ever. He was the boy who teased her mercilessly, who always wore a cocky smile. She hadn't thought he was capable of breaking like this. The sight of him sobbing into Aditya's shoulder, clinging to his brother like he was afraid to lose him again, shook her more than she could admit.

Her small hands curled into fists at her sides, her own chest tightening. She didn't understand the whole story-why Aditya had stopped cooking, why Ayaan's reaction was so strong-but she knew she was witnessing something fragile, something sacred.