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Riyansh paced the cold, sterile hospital corridor, his footsteps echoing through the empty space. His hands were clammy, and he kept rubbing them together, trying to shake off the nervous energy that gripped him. Every time the elevator dinged, his heart skipped a beat. His brothers would be here any minute. After twelve long years, he was about to face the people he once knew better than himself but who now felt like strangers.
He stopped and leaned against the wall, his eyes glued to the elevator doors. What would he say? What could he say? The memories of their childhood felt like they belonged to another life, distant and shattered beyond repair.
The elevator dinged again. Riyansh held his breath, waiting for the doors to open. When they didn't, he let out a shaky sigh, his nerves fraying with each passing second. Questions swirled in his mind, growing louder. Would they blame him for leaving? Would they even care? Or had too much time passed for it to matter?
Meanwhile, Atharv sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the city of Indore blurred past. His face was set in a determined expression, but beneath the surface, he was uneasy. Atharv prided himself on staying in control, but this situation was different. Facing Riyansh after all these years stirred emotions he didn't fully understand. Deep down, he knew the separation hadn't been entirely Riyansh's fault, but confronting that truth meant facing the pain they had all endured.
Aahir, driving with a tight grip on the steering wheel, tried to focus on the road, but his mind was miles away. Aahir had always been the easygoing one, the brother who could find humor in any situation. But as they neared the hospital, there was no trace of the usual smile on his face. His thoughts drifted back to simpler times when their family was whole.
Once, Aahir had been incredibly close to his mother. He had been her shadow, always eager to help or just be near her. But that bond shattered the day she left, taking Riyansh with her. Aahir had been devastated, feeling as though a part of him had been ripped away. He never truly understood why they had to leave, and the pain of their absence lingered, becoming a dull ache that never fully went away.
Riyansh... just thinking about his name brought back a flood of memories. They had been inseparable, the perfect partners in crime. Together, they pulled off countless pranks on their elder brothers, often outsmarting Atharv, who would inevitably catch them. The punishments only made them closer, and they would laugh about it later, already planning their next mischief.But when Riyansh left, Aahir lost more than just a brother—he lost his best friend. The house felt empty without their laughter. Aahir tried to fill the void, but nothing could replace what he had lost.
Chirag, sitting in the back seat, scrolled through his phone, pretending to be disinterested. But in reality, he was using it as a distraction from the anxiety that gripped him. He had no desire to be here, no interest in seeing the brothers who had walked out on them years ago. If it weren't for Atharv, he wouldn't have come at all.
Chirag had been just a kid when they left. He grew up angry and confused, blaming Riyansh for abandoning them, their mother for tearing the family apart, and himself for not being able to stop it. Seeing them again filled him with dread. It was easier to stay angry, to keep them at a distance.
When the elevator finally dinged, Riyansh's breath caught in his throat as the doors slid open. Atharv stepped out first, his face unreadable, his eyes sharp and assessing. Behind him, Chirag walked out with a guarded expression, his fists clenched as if bracing for a fight. Aahir lagged slightly behind, his gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding Riyansh's eyes.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The air was thick with unspoken words, years of separation, and pain hanging between them like a heavy fog. Riyansh's heart pounded as he took a hesitant step forward. Atharv's stern expression softened slightly as he recognized his brother. Without thinking, Riyansh stepped closer and bowed down to touch Atharv's feet.
Atharv's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he pulled Riyansh into a hug, momentarily forgetting all the hurt and anger. But as quickly as the warmth came, it faded, and Atharv released him. Riyansh then turned to Aahir,and bow down to touch his feet but Aahir took a step back, refusing to meet his eyes. The rejection stung, reminding Riyansh that their bond wasn't easily repaired.
Finally, Riyansh looked to Chirag, hoping for some sign of recognition or warmth. But Chirag's cold gaze was filled with clear resentment. He looked away, refusing to acknowledge his brother. The hatred in Chirag's eyes was like a punch to Riyansh's gut, leaving him speechless. He gulped, trying to push down the bitter taste of rejection, but the pain was impossible to ignore.
Riyansh felt a heavy silence settle over them as they all sat in the hospital waiting room. His mind raced, trying to find the right words, but nothing seemed enough. He had imagined this moment for years, hoping it would bring relief or closure, but the cold stares from his brothers only deepened the ache in his chest.
Riyansh finally broke the silence, his voice calm but distant. "The doctors are doing their best, but the situation is critical. We need to be ready for whatever happens."
Atharv nodded, swallowing hard.Aahir Asked "Did they say how it happened?"
"It was a hit-and-run," Riyansh replied, his eyes briefly meeting Aahir's before looking away. "She's been in mistake She was on call."
Riyansh's heart sank. Of course, she would talking to Chirag—the brother who refused to even look at him. He glanced over, but Chirag was staring at the floor, his face tense and unreadable.Atharv stood up, ready to leave. "I'll check with the doctors again," he said, his tone flat.Atharv was about to walk out when a young girl, around 10 or 11 years old, bumped into him. Startled, he looked down at her. There was something about her that made it impossible for him to scold her for running carelessly. Her eyes—there was something familiar in them that tugged at his heart. They were identical to his own. Before he could say or ask anything, the girl quickly murmured a soft "sorry" and hurried away.
As Atharv watched her leave, he noticed a boy, about the same age as Riyansh, following closely behind her. But what truly shocked him was when the girl ran straight into Riyansh's arms and hugged him tightly. The word that left her lips sent a chill down his spine. "Bhaiya," she called him.
Could it be? Arharv's mind raced with the possibility. No, it couldn't be. But the resemblance, the familiarity—it was undeniable. He turned to look at Aahir, who was just as shocked as he was, his palms sweaty with the realization. Chirag, however, remained unaware, lost in his own thoughts, completely oblivious to the silent storm brewing around him.
Meanwhile, Riyansh hugged Khwahish back, finding a sense of comfort he needed the most But as he looked up and saw the faces of his brothers, his heart sank. The moment he had dreaded for years had finally arrived, and he knew there was no turning back now.
"Princess, go with Bhai. I'll talk to you later," Riyansh said, his voice tight with emotion. Aalekh, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded and gently urged Khwahish to leave. "But Bhaiya—" Khwahish began to protest, her stubbornness kicking in.
Before Riyansh could respond, Aalekh's voice cut through the tension. "Khwahish, can't you listen for once?" he scolded, frustration evident in his tone. and he took out all his frustration on her.
Atharv and Aahir didn't like Aalekh's harsh tone towards Khwahish, though they couldn't quite explain why. They said nothing, but their expressions darkened. After being scolded, Khwahish quietly went away with Aalekh, leaving Riyansh to face his brothers alone.
As the tension in the air began to settle, Atharv couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had taken hold of him. The image of the young girl hugging Riyansh, calling him "Bhaiya," replayed in his mind over and over again. It gnawed at him, filling him with questions he wasn't sure he wanted to ask.
Later, when they were finally alone in a quieter part of the hospital, Atharv turned to Riyansh, his expression serious. "Riyansh," he began, trying to keep his voice steady, "that girl... Khwahish... Who is she?"
Riyansh took a deep breath before responding, "Khawhish hai... , our little sister, Ham sab ki sabse badi Khawahish... Khawahish Sinha." The moment those words left his mouth, Atharv took a step back, tears welling up in both his and Aahir's eyes. Memories flooded their minds—how much they had longed for a sister, how excited they had been when they thought they were going to have one, and how every Rakhi, they would dream of their little princess. But now, when she stood before them, she had no idea they even existed.
"Why?" Atharv asked, his voice thick with emotion, but Riyansh remained silent. This only fueled Aahir's anger. Grabbing Riyansh by the collar, he shouted, "Why, Riyansh? Why did you hide our sister from us?" Aahir's voice trembled with rage and hurt. Chirag, too, began to piece together the truth. Was that girl really his sister? Did their mother remarry and start another family? But then, why did Riyansh refer to her as Khawahish Sinha? That meant she was their sister, but the thought confused him. One thing was clear—he wasn't ready to share his brothers with anyone.Before anyone could say another word, the doctor approached them, forcing them to regain their composure. "How is she, doctor?" Atharv asked urgently.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sinha. We did our best, but her internal bleeding isn't stopping. She only has a few moments left. You all can meet her one last time," the doctor said solemnly. For a moment, all the brothers felt their hearts skip a beat. Yet, they gathered themselves and walked toward the room.
Savita Ji's eyes glistened as she saw all her children together, except for Khawahish. They had decided not to call her, fearing the trauma it could cause her at such a young age. The brothers stood rigidly, unsure of what to say or how to feel.
"Baccho, mujhe maaf kar do, please. Main tum kisi ke liye bhi acchi maa nahi ban payi," Mrs. Savita said, her voice filled with regret and longing. Hearing her words, Chirag let out a cold laugh. He was about to say something harsh, but the glares from his brothers silenced him. Instead, he stormed out of the room, with Aahir following close behind, unable to bear the situation or leave his brother alone.
Savita Ji's eyes filled with guilt as she turned to Riyansh. "Riyansh beta, mujhe Atharv se akele mein baat karni hai," she said, her voice barely a whisper. Riyansh felt a pang of sadness but nodded and quietly left the room.
"Atharv beta, mujhe maaf kar do. Par main sach mein tum logon ko chodna nahi chahti thi," Mrs. Savita said, her voice trembling. Atharv said nothing, just sat on the stool beside the bed. "Beta, maine tumhare monster jaise baap ko bohot saha, aur sirf tum logon ke liye. Par delivery se pehle mujhe pata chala tha ki mujhe beti hone wali hai, aur uske liye main tumhare baap par trust nahi kar sakti thi. Na hi main chahti thi ke use woh sab sehna pade. Isliye main bhaag gayi," she confessed, her voice filled with pain.
Atharv looked at her, shock evident in his eyes. He had known part of the reason, but hearing the full truth left him stunned. Yet, one question still haunted him—why didn't she take all of them with her?
Who is your favorite character so far, and why?
Which character do you feel the most pity for? What makes their situation sympathetic?
How do you think Khwahish will react when she learns about her brothers?
Are you excited for the upcoming confrontation between the characters? What are you hoping to see?
What do you think Savita Ji will say to Atharv when they finally talk?
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