Thank you everyone for your support. Really means a lot to me..Lots of Love to you guys.
.....
Arnav was making coffee when the doorbell rang. Startled, he rushed to open the door—and the moment he saw Rahul, he pulled him into a tight hug, making Rahul take a step back from the force of it.
Rahul instinctively wrapped his arms around Arnav, holding him protectively, sensing the tension in his body. Kritika, who had followed behind, looked worried too. Rahul glanced at her and gave a subtle nod, silently telling her, "you go I'll handle this"
Kritika gave him a small, understanding smile. Her heart melted at the sight of Arnav clinging to Rahul like a child seeking comfort in his mother’s embrace. She quietly stepped back, leaving them alone.
Rahul gently asked, his voice full of warmth, “Ani... kya hua?”
Arnav shook his head, stepping away, his voice low. “Theek hoon main... bas...”
Rahul cupped his shoulder gently and said, “Coffee leke aaja chhat pe... wait kar raha hoon tera.”
Arnav gave a silent nod.
The two friends sat silently, sipping their coffee as the evening breeze gently brushed past their faces. The sky above was painted in soft shades of orange and purple, but neither of them paid attention. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was peaceful. Familiar.
It had always been this way.
Rahul knew Arnav took time to open up. So, he never pushed. He just stayed—close enough to be there, far enough to let Arnav breathe.
That had always been their unspoken promise.
Twelve years of friendship. No pretenses. No lies. Just a bond—imperfect but unshakable. They weren’t brothers by blood, but by choice and heart.
Finally, Arnav broke the silence. " so party kaise rahi ?”
Rahul caught the cue. Arnav was warming up to something deeper.
“Do sal ke bacche ki birthday party kaise hogi , Ani?” Rahul replied with a playful smirk. “or tujhe pata hai kriti kaisi hai… wo baccho ko dekhkar...khud bacchi ban jati hai. She made me wear a birthday cap and literally forced me to play musical chairs with those little tornadoes.”
Arnav laughed. “Only Bhabhi could pull that off.”
Rahul nudged him on the back. “Hansle jitna hasna hai . Just wait till you get married. Then we’ll see who’s laughing!”
Arnav raised his hands in mock surrender. “No way, man. I’m happy with you all. I don’t want to get into all that mess.”
Rahul smirked. “Oh Mr. Brahmchari, jada khwab mat dekhye ap..apki pyari vahini ne apke liye ladki dekhna chalu kar diya hai..or iss saal wo tere hath peele karke hi manegi.
Arnav’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Rahul nodded seriously. “You heard me right.”
“I don’t know anything! You better save me from this martyrdom,” Arnav exclaimed.
Rahul chuckled. “Nope. Mai devar-bhabhi ke war ke neech me nahi ane wala. Teri vahini..tu sambhal.
Arnav groaned, trying to glare at him, but it only made Rahul laugh harder. Eventually, even Arnav couldn’t hold back a small, reluctant smile.
A few quiet moments passed. Then, softly, Arnav said, “Rahul… ek bat bolu ?
Rahul turned to him, all joking gone from his face. “Haan bol na.”
“Thank you,” Arnav said quietly.
Rahul raised his eyebrow. “kisliye ?”
“For always being there for me.”
Rahul didn’t interrupt. He just listened.
“I’ve never said it out loud,” Arnav continued, “but aaj mai jo kuch bhi hun… it’s mostly because of you. Jab mai bhooke pyase sadak pe kam ke talas me ghum raha tha..tab tune mera hath thama tha, Mujhe apne sath param uncle ke garage le laga tha. Tere wajah se mujhe job mili. You gave me the hope to hope which I had lost. Mere sapne ko pura karne ke liye..mujhse jada..tune ladai ki hai..puri duniya se...yahan tak ki mujhse bhi.
His voice caught. “Remember when I got that MBBS seat in Andhra Pradesh?Mai nahi jana chahta tha. Mai dar gaya tha ki..mere bacche fir se akele ho jaenge. Agar mai dur gaya to kaun sambhalega unhe..kon khyal rakhega unki jarurato ka..kon unhe sahi-galat ke bare me bataega "
He looked directly at Rahul now, eyes glistening.
“Par tune or vahini ne sabkuch apne upar le liya. Mujhe aj bhi yad hai jab tune mujhe kaha tha " Ani..tu ja. Apne sapne pura kar..Ayu or Avi mere bhi bacche hai...wada karta hun..inpe ek kharoch bhi nahi ane dunga . "
“And you meant it,” he said, voice cracking. “tune or vahini ne..itna pyar diya un dono ko...itna khyal rakha..unhe kabhi akela nahi feel hone diya. Mai tum dono ko jitna bhi thanks bolu na Rahul ..kam hai yaar. Aj mai ek kamyab doctor hun to sirf tumpogo ke pyar or support ki wajah se..agar tu nhi hota mere pas..to mai yahan tak kabhi nahi pahunch pata.
Rahul’s eyes blurred for a moment, his heart shook like a leaf..Arnav had bare his heart to him..but he kept his voice steady.
“ye thanx wanks bolke paraya mat kar mujhe..koi itna bara kam nahi kar diya maine..sirf apne family ka sath diya maine jo sabhi dete hai...or tu mera bhai hai yar, meri first family ..tu jabse mere life me aya tabse maine khudko kabhi akela nahi paya hai Ani..agar tere liye nahi karunga to kise liye karunga ?.”
He reached out and cupped Arnav’s face gently.
And then he said " or Ayu or Avi ..jitna tera hak hai unpe..utna mera bhi hai. Samjha tu ?
Arnav whispered , his words trembled, “You have every right on them, Rahul… every right.” Rahul smiled with tears
Arnav hugged Rahul tightly. “I love you, Bhai.” his voice was thick with emotions.
Rahul smiled, ruffling his hair. “I love you too, Ani.”
And there, under the open sky, two friends—two brothers—sat side by side, with nothing between them but truth, loyalty, and years of silent love.
Ayu was sprawled on the bed, eyes glued to his phone screen. The unmistakable sound of roaring jet engines filled the room—he was watching yet another YouTube video of Caption A flying his plane like a total beast.
Avi peeked over his shoulder, instantly rolling his eyes.
“Seriously? Again with Caption A?”
Ayu didn’t even blink. “Can’t help it, man. He’s just… fucking so good.”
Avi gave a mock gasp. “Big B! Language! Bhaiya ne sun liya na toh tumhara sanskaar quotient zero pe aa jayega.”
Ayu bit his tongue, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry.”
Avi chuckled. “Waise Bhaiya ko toh bahut badi galatfaimi hai ki unka bada baccha bada hi seedha-saadha hai. Ek baar mujhse poochho... kya kya karnama kiya hai tumne.”
Ayu smirked, voice dropping into mischief. “Crime is not crime until it’s exposed.”
Avi laughed. “Ha ha ha. Very phuneeeee.”
“Thank you,” Ayu said with a dramatic bow of his head.
Then Avi leaned in, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Waise Big B, soch... agar Bhaiya ko pata chal gaya ki unka sanskari baccha actually apne school, college aur doston ke beech official bad boy tha… kya hoga?”
Ayu raised an eyebrow. “Aur unhe batayega kaun? Tu?”
Avi grinned. “Kya pata... kisi din tareef mein muh se kuch nikal hi jaye.”
Ayu said calmly, almost ominously, “Phir uss din mere saath-saath tera bhi aakhri din hoga.”
Avi giggled. “Main toh underground ho jaunga. Sab batake gayab.”
Ayu leaned in and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close. “Tu chahe kahin bhi chhup ja, main tujhe dhundh lunga.”
Avi raised an eyebrow. “Wo kaise?”
Ayu smiled, voice softening. “Wo aise ki tu mera chhotu sa bhai hai… aur mujhe pata hai tu mere bina reh hi nahi sakta. Ek baar awaaz lagaunga—‘Avi, bahar aa ja... warna baat nahi karunga tujhse kabhi.’ Tu khud samne aa jaayega.”
Avi huffed, but his eyes glistened. Ayu laughed and wrapped him in a warm, back hug.
“I love you, pagal,” Ayu whispered, thick emotion in his voice. “Tujhe main kabhi khudse door jaane hi nahi dunga. Jo mujhe tujhe dhundhna pade… I can’t live without you, Avi. Tu meri jaan hai.”
Avi melted, hugging him tight. “I love you too, Big B… bahut bahut bahut saara.”
Ayu ruffled his hair with a loving grin. “I know.”
They slowly pulled apart from the hug, Ayu still smiling with affection lingering in his eyes.
But Avi was grinning like he’d been sitting on a secret for days.
“Rukye... mere paas kuch hai aapke liye.”
Ayu narrowed his eyes. “Phir se koi prank toh nahi?”
Avi scoffed. “Trust me, Big B... this time it's legit.”
He walked over to his drawer, pulled out a slim envelope, and handed it to Ayu with a proud little smirk.
Ayu opened it—and froze.
It was a signed photo of Caption A, standing beside a Diamond DA42 training aircraft, flight uniform on, headset around his neck, smiling confidently.
Scrawled across the photo in neat handwriting:
“To Ayu – Future Captain, keep flying toward your dreams. See you in the skies. – Caption A, CIC, EFTI (England)”
Ayu’s breath hitched. He just stared.
“You… you got this from him?” he asked in disbelief.
" kaise mila ye tujhe ? " Ayu was at loss of words
Avi " Maine unhe last week mail karke request kiya tha..unhe bataya ki ap kitne bare fan ho unke ..or ap unse kitne inspired ho . Literally mujhe nahi laga tha wo kabhi mera mail padhenge bhi..but he really send this "
Ayu just stared at the photo, eyes glassy, lips trembling in a smile.
“This means... so much,” he whispered.
Then he pulled Avi into another tight hug, his voice low and thick with emotion " Thank you "
Avi just smiled tigtening the grip around him. If his Big B was happy, then he was happy. And he was thankful for Caption A, too..for accepting his request and bringing a smile on his elder one’s face.
SWINDLE
Subject: A small request from a little brother
Dear Captain A,
Hi! I’m Atharv from India. I hope you are doing well and flying high in the skies like always!
I’m writing this email for a very special reason… well, actually, for a very special person—my Big B.
His name is Aryan and he is your biggest fan ever. I swear, he watches your videos all the time—sote, jaagte, khate, peete… har waqt! (I’m not even joking!)
Sometimes I feel like he loves you more than me… (okay, I’m just a little bit jealous, but only thoda sa). But it’s okay—because you inspire him a lot. And that makes me happy too.
He wants to be a pilot just like you. And I’ve seen him working so hard for it.
So I had this tiny request—can you please send a signed photo for him with his name “Aryan”?
It would mean the world to him. And I’ll become his favorite again… maybe!
Thank you so much for reading this (sorry for blabbering and eating your brain—but I’m like this only. What to do!)
Lots of love and respect,
Atharv
Arav read the mail again. A small smile curved his lips—one of those rare, involuntary ones that softened the sharp edges of his otherwise composed face.
The subject still made him chuckle:
“A small request from a little brother”
He read Atharv’s words slowly, letting them settle in his chest like a quiet warmth. The boy’s innocence… his jealousy… his love… all wrapped in clumsy, heartfelt sentences.
It had touched something buried deep. A memory. A wound.
Arav sat for a moment, staring at the screen. Then, without thinking too much, he typed:
> I hope your Big B is happy now… and you might be his favorite again. And just stay like this… you don’t need to change.
He paused.
Then hit send.
As soon as the button turned blue, he blinked, surprised at himself.
He had never replied to fan mails personally—especially not like this. But Atharv… that boy… his raw, unfiltered love for his brother had quietly broken through Arav’s guarded heart.
It reminded him of his own love for his bhaiya.
He used to be the same.
But destiny had played its cruel part.
Snatched.
Severed.
And suddenly, Arav wasn’t just thinking about Aryan and Atharv anymore. He was praying for them. Quietly. Desperately.
He hoped destiny doesn’t play the cruel game on them like it did with him. The boys should stay together forever.
He closed the laptop gently.
The smile still lingered—fragile, but real.
He heard soft knock on his door, he looked up and found his mother..
" Aru, aaj Sunday hai..or humdono ki chhuti bhi hai...to kyu na hundono aj kahi ghumne chale..sath me ? " komal asked with expectation
Arav replied in cold tone " Mera man nahi hai. Apko jana hai to ap chale jaye.
Komal's eyes blurred with tears " kab tak tu mujhe saja dega Aru..itne sal beet gaye..tujhe apni Mumma pe taras nahi ata ?
Arav’s jaw clenched " wakt bhale hi bahut beet gaya hai..par jakhm abhi bhi utne hi hare hai ..jitne pahle the.
Komal spoke in frustration " kya tere liye jo hai wo Arnav hi hai..mai teri kuch bhi nahi hun Arav ..? Tujhe mera pyar..mera pain..kyun kuch nahi dikhta...
Arav looked at her and asked " Apko dikha tha kya mera pain ? Tab kahan chala gaya tha apka mamta jab mai bol raha tha mujhe Bhaiya se alag mat karo..rahne so India me hi..
Komal " maine sirf teri bhalai chahi thi Arav...
Arav said in pain " or apke issi bhalai ke chakkar me maine apna sab kuch diya..Na ap mujhe jabardasti yahan bhejti or na mai Bhaiya ko kuch hone deta..aaj wo mere pas hote...
Komal said with angry tears " kisike jindgi maut pe ..humara control nahi hota hai Arav..jisko jab jana hota hai..wo chale jate hai...
Arav " par mai apne bhaiya ke liye maut se bhi lar jata...unke jagah agar mujhe marna parta to mar jata..par unhe jane nahi deta . "
He said with tears and left from there..leaving komal with shattered heart. She had left her hope now that she could ever get her son back.
End of the chapter
How was it ?
Fav part ?
Any scene request?