2.bhaiya

Ahana

I arrived at the cafe Janvi had chosen. It was a quiet little place, tucked into the corner of a narrow street with warm lights glowing through the glass windows and the gentle hum of music playing in the background. The smell of roasted coffee beans and pastries filled the air.

I scanned the room and spotted her instantly. Janvi sat at a corner table near the window, her hair was loosely tied up, fingers curled around a coffee mug, pressing her phone to her ear. Her eyes were focused onto something, her expression serious. she looked up as I walked in. The moment our eyes met, something inside me softened.

Without thinking, I walked straight to her. No pause. No words. Just the need to feel safe. I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her, holding her as tightly as I could. My face pressed into her shoulder and I let out a deep, heavy breath which I hadn't realized I was holding. She was startled for a second but immediately melted into the hug, holding me back just as tightly.

Janvi is my best friend. My supporter. My soul sister. It hasn't been years of your friendship. Only one year. But in that one year, she became someone so special that even I couldn't imagine living without her. She became my home. The kind of person I could trust with everything inside me. Every ache. Every scar.

From the very first time we spoke, it felt like something deeper than coincidence. Like some unseen thread had tied us together long before we even met.

Before Kabir, it was Janvi who made me feel human. Like I deserved to exist. Like I was worthy of breath, of love, of happiness. She never needed to say much. Just being near her made me feel seen in a way no one else had managed before.

"Kya hua, Ahu? Firse kuch bola kya Aunty ya Uncle ne? Ya uss suwar Kabir ne kuch kiya?" she asked, her voice filled with worry as she ended her call and focused entirely on me. "I told you he's not good for you."

(What happened, Ahu? Did Aunty or Uncle say something again? Or did that pig Kabir do something?)

Her concern wasn't new. Everything about Janvi was good but she never liked Kabir. Not even once. She called him names, warned me to stay away from him and even looked at him like he was a storm waiting to destroy me. And every time, I told her she was wrong. That he wasn't like that. That she just didn't know the side of him I did.

"Nahi baba, I'm okay. I just wanted a hug from you" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady but it wavered anyway.

Janvi leaned back just enough to look at my face. She narrowed her eyes, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she raised one eyebrow, the way she always did when she saw through my lies.

"Oh... and do you really think I would believe that?" she asked softly. "I may not be your oldest best friend but in all these months, I've come to know you, Ahu. And now do I really have to see this day where my Ahu is trying to stay strong in front of me?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she reached up and gently patted my head. Her touch was light but it broke something inside me. Because she was right. I didn't have to pretend with her.

Janvi knows everything about Kabir. Every fight, every silence, every time I stayed up late waiting for his call. But when it comes to my parents... that's different. Neither she nor Kabir knows the full story. They only know what I've chosen to share. And even then, it's just fragments. Carefully selected pieces. Because no matter how much they hurt me, I've never had the heart to speak ill of the people who gave me life.

But there's a difference between Janvi and Kabir.

Janvi never pushes. She waits. She lets me open up in my own time, as if she knows that some wounds take longer to show. She makes space for the silence between my words.

Kabir never forced me either, that's true. But he also never asked. Never looked closely enough to see that something was wrong with me.

Then after taking a seat, I shared with her that How mom had compared me to Diya again. How those words, so casually spoken, carved into me in places I didn't know still ached. And how Kabir hadn't picked up my calls. Not once. Not even after I messaged him again and again, hoping he'd care enough to ask what was wrong.

Of course, I didn't tell her exactly what Mom had said. Some words are too heavy to say out loud.

"See, you don't have to stress about Aunty" Janvi said gently holding my hand "Maybe she just said it in the heat of the moment."

Then her face changed into twisted anger, "But that bastard Kabir! I swear, he's a fucking bastard."

I let out a small laugh, "Huhhh, Jannu say something new" I mumbled, half-smiling. "Every time the topic is about Kabir, you've got the same words for him— bastard, coward, cheater, etc."

"Isn't it obvious? Like, I don't know why or how you fell for a guy like that. You deserve so much better than that jerk" Janvi said, leaning forward her eyes searching mine like she was still hoping I'd wake up from some dream.

"Achaa, bohot ho gaya, madam ji. Chalo, kuch khate hain. Bohot bhook lagi hai," I said, steering the conversation away with a half-hearted laugh.

(Achaa... ok... madam... now let's go eat something... I'm so hungry)

She raised an eyebrow at my abrupt deflection, lips twitching into a smirk.

"Hmm, hmmm. You really need to learn how to change topics more smoothly, my Ahu" she teased, shaking her head before calling the waiter over with a wave of her hand.

A few minutes later, our food arrived, steaming hot bowls of creamy pasta and tall glasses of chilled cold coffee. The scent was mouthwatering. I took my first bite, and a soft involuntary smile spread across my face. It was so delicious.

"Waise, when are you planning to show up again 'there'?" she asked casually taking a spoonful of bite.

I stopped mid-bite. The fork lingered near my lips for a second too long before I slowly set it down cause I know what she is referring to by 'there'

"I... I don't know. Let's see" I muttered, pretending to be very interested in the grated cheese on my plate.

"Oh, stop it Ahu. I know you like doing that. And come on, you've become so famous that people recognize you with that famous name now" she said, her tone playful but firm as she set her spoon down and folded her arms across her chest.

I let out a long sigh, the kind that came from knowing you've been cornered by someone who knows you too well. Great. Now my cute but stubborn best friend is upset with me. And when she's mad, it's always my responsibility to make things right.

"Okay, baba don't be mad. I'll be back next month. Happy now?" I asked, giving her a small smile, hoping it would soften her expression.

"Very" she replied with a triumphant grin. her mood instantly shifted as she picked her fork back up and dug into the pasta like it was the best news she'd heard all day.

After that, we chatted a little more before heading home.

Janvi left early cause her assignments were left. Yes she is in college. She is younger than me, but only in age not in mind. I dropped out of college in my second semester for reasons I would rather not recall.... whatever I also arrived home but before going inside I checked my phone to see if there is any text or messages from Kabir but to my luck... there was none.

My fingers tightened around the phone. Frustration started to rise, slow and sharp, scraping at the edges of my calm.

Without thinking twice, I pressed on his name and dialed.

No answer.

I waited a few seconds and called again.

Still nothing.

I called four more times, my thumb trembled slightly as I hit redial over and over. My breathing had turned shallow and fast. I hated this feeling, the desperate waiting, the cold silence on the other end. The unanswered questions.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, I gave up and slipped the phone into my pocket.

As I reached the door knob to open it, I paused. A familiar voice floated through the slight gap. It's Bhaiya.

My heart skipped a beat.

I quickly pushed the door open and the handle slipped from my slightly sweaty palm as I stepped in.

There he was. Sitting on the sofa with Mumma and Papa. Calm. collected. Their conversation stopped mid-sentence.

But I? I could not take my eyes off him.

He looked the same yet something felt different. My throat tightened with emotions rising too fast for me to name.

"Aa gayi meri beti. Chalo, accha hai, warna laga tha kahi kisi ke saath..." Mumma began, her voice mocking and venomous enough to slice through the silence like it always did.

(My daughter is finally home. Good, otherwise I thought maybe she was....)

"Mumma!!! I...I told you I was meeting Janvi, Right? Why can't you believe me for once?" I snapped, the frustration spilling out before I could stop it.

She did not reply, just gave me a cold glare. That look alone was enough to quiet me.

I turned to Bhaiya, hoping for even a flicker of support. My eyes searched his face, silently pleading him to say something. Just say something please. But he did not even look at me. His attention was buried deep in his phone, like I wasn't even in the room.

I swallowed hard and walked to my room without another word.

The moment I shut the door behind me, the tears came like they always did, It feels like crying is my daily routine.

I sat in the corner of my room and switched off the light. Happy memories of Bhaiya and me started playing before my eyes like a movie.

6-year-old Ahana

"Bhaiya... Mumma scolded me. She said no one loves me" I whimpered as my small arms wrapped tightly around him.

He pulled me closer without a second thought silently stroking my hair in slow, calming motions.

"Aree, she just said that in the heat of the moment. Don't take it to heart" he said softly, wiping away the tears on my cheeks with the edge of his sleeve. "I'm here, na? I love my little Ahu. More than anything. Now stop crying, or else Bhaiya will be sad too."

*****

"Bhaiya, you're the best! Look, I made a flower crown for you!" I said excitedly as my eyes lit up in happiness. I carefully placed the delicate crown on his head and he looked so best in that. My bhaiya is so prewwwtyy.

He looked at it for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Wow, it's so cute, Ahu! Thank you" Bhaiya said in a voice full of affection as he pulled me into a tight hug. "I promise I'll always keep it with me safely"

*******

12-year-old ahana

"Bhaiya... is it true that you're going to boarding school?" I asked, my voice trembled as I looked up at him, tears already brimming in my eyes.

"Arre, why is my strong Ahu crying, hmm?" Bhaiya said as his arms pulled me close pecking my temple to calm me. "It's not decided yet, bachaa. Don't worry. Shhh, no more tears."

I nodded, trying to calm myself but the uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving a dull ache in my chest.

That night, I woke up feeling thirsty, the quiet of the house amplifying the emptiness inside me. As I made my way to the kitchen, I passed the drawing room, where the lights were still on. Curiosity got the best of me and I quietly crept closer, hiding behind a table so they wouldn't see me.

What I saw made my heart plummet.

Mumma and Papa were standing with Bhaiya in the middle of the room but it was the sight of him, crying that broke my heart in every possible way.

Seeing him in tears brought tears in my own eyes, I covered my mouth with my hands making sure not to escape any sound.

"Are you sure you want to go to boarding school?" Papa's voice was stern. "It's more expensive than you think... and I'm not sure you'll be able to handle it."

"Yes, he's right" Mumma added, her tone cutting through the air like a knife. "You'd better stay here and focus on your studies. I don't think it's worth investing so much money in you. You can't do anything, Daivik. I never expect anything from you."

What?! Why were they saying this to Bhaiya? I know he could do it, I know it. He was always the one who tried hardest, always the one who gave his best.

"Mumma, please... just let me try once. Please" Bhaiya pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation as he joined his hand in front of them and fell on his knees.

"Okay, okay you don't have to beg" Mumma said coldly, dismissing him. "I can't forget that you're our son. But remember this, if you don't make it, never come to us again." Saying this both mumma and papa left from there.

The words hung in the air like poison, suffocating the room. Bhaiya stood there alone, his shoulders shook as silent sobs racked his body.

"I can't do this anymore" I heard him whisper, as if to himself. "If I stay in this house, I'll... I'll end up ending myself. But if I leave... what will happen to my Ahu?"

The words hit me like a blow. No... I refused to let him be weak because of me. I refused to be the reason Bhaiya hurt himself. He'd always been strong for me and now it was my turn to be strong for him.

I wiped away the silent tears falling down my cheeks, my heart was heavy but resolute. I would be strong, just like he always wanted me to be.

With a quiet sob, I turned away and slipped back to my room, carrying a newfound resolve within me. I couldn't let this be the end for him. I had to keep fighting.

Present Time

I curled up on my bed, clutching my legs to my chest, the weight of everything pressing down on me until exhaustion finally claimed me.

Again that butterfly hug while stroking my hair. I only hope for one thing, that one day the wall between me and bhaiya which is created by him only which I don't know knowingly or unknowingly would break.

Next day

I woke up with my usual throbbing headache, the kind that felt like a constant companion. After dragging myself to the washroom and freshening up, I retreated to my books. They held the kind of peace I desperately needed.

As I flipped through the pages, I could escape into a world of my own, where I wasn't defined by the heaviness of my reality. Each line in the book seemed to hypnotize me, pulling me deeper into the story making me feel as if I were the main character living a life I could only dream of.

And though I knew it was all a fantasy I realized that finding solace in something, even if it's imaginary is better than living in the emptiness of nothing.

After finishing my chapter, I took a deep breath, feeling a bit lighter and braced myself for the new day.

The moment I opened the door I saw the last person I expected, Bhaiya. It seemed like he was heading downstairs too. I couldn't bring myself to face him, not now. It was the start of a new day and I refused to let it begin with tears. So, without sparing him even a glance I hurried down the stairs, hoping to keep my emotions in check for just a little longer.

The moment I stepped down the stairs, that familiar stretching silence met me again. The kind that wasn't peaceful or calm but dense. The air itself felt too thick to breathe properly. Everyone was in their usual places yet it never felt like a family. Just bodies sharing the same space, carrying their own silence like armor.

"Aa gayi... chal ab kaam pe lag ja. Papa aur bhaiya ko khana serve kar de" Ma said from the kitchen. Her back was to me, hands moving swiftly between pots and plates.

(You're here... now get to work. Serve food to your father and brother.)

I nodded without a word and began serving them. First Papa, who barely glanced up. Then Daivik, my brother, who didn't even lift his eyes from his phone. Once their plates were full, I quietly turned to the counter and picked up a plate for myself.

But just as I began to serve food onto it, Ma's voice cut through the silence again.

"Ruk."

(Wait)

I looked at her, "Kya hua Ma?"

(What happened Mom)

She turned to me then, eyes sharp, lips pressed tight.

"Tujhe kya sikhaya hai maine? Ladkiya baad mein khati hain. Pet hai ki kuaa tera? Itna khana khati hai, phir bhi bhook nahi mitti? Itni lalsa achi baat nahi hai."

(What have I taught you? Girls eat later. Is your stomach a bottomless pit? You eat so much, and still you're not full? Such greed is not a good thing)

I nodded, swallowing everything I wanted to say. My plate remained untouched. I stepped back and stood silently against the wall, my hands folded in front of me.

A few minutes passed in that stillness. The sound of spoons scraping plates filled the air. I kept my gaze low, trying not to feel the ache in my stomach.

But then something made me look up. Bhaiya was staring at me. His plate was full but not a bite had been taken.

"Kya hua Daivik? Kyun nahi kha rahe ho?" Mom asked after noticing his plate.

(What's wrong, Daivik? Why aren't you eating?)

He didn't look at her. His voice was calm but firm.

"Mom, I'm eating. Ahana kon v baithne do hamare saath usee bhi bhook lagi hai."

(Let Ahana sit with us too. She's hungry as well.)

For a second, it was like the room paused. His face remained blank, expressionless as though showing even a flicker of emotion would be a big crime.

Mumma didn't say anything, just gave a short nod in response to Daivik's words.

I quickly pulled out a chair and sat down at the edge of the dining table, lowering my gaze as I began eating.

I didn't waste time. I was hungry. My stomach ached from the emptiness I had carried since last night. I started taking big bites, barely chewing just needing something to fill the gnawing inside me.

"Aaj Daivik aur Papa nahi rahenge... aur meri tabiyat bhi theek nahi hai" Ma spoke as she wiped her hands on the edge of her dupatta. "Ghar ki thodi saf safai kar dena... ya uske liye bhi helper bulaun?"

(Today, Daivik and Papa won't be home... and I'm not feeling well either... so do some cleaning around the house... or should I bring a helper for that too?)

I looked up briefly, swallowing hard before answering.

"M...main kar dungi" I replied looking down.

(I... I'll do it)

She didn't respond, just turned and walked back into the kitchen. The rest of breakfast passed in silence. Eventually, one by one everyone left the house. Papa, then Daivik. The house settled into its usual quiet form.

I tucked my odhani tightly around my waist, tied my hair up in a messy bun and began with the dishes. The water was cold and my hands numbed quickly, but I didn't stop. From the sink, I moved to wiping surfaces, sweeping floors and then finally to the washroom.

While scrubbing the bathroom tiles, my toe slammed hard into the metal bucket. Pain exploded instantly, sharp and unforgiving as a helpless "Maaaaaaahhhh....." slipped from my mouth before I could stop it.

Mumma was passing by the door just then. She paused.

"Ab kya garbar kiya tune?" she asked, irritation clear in her voice.

(What have you messed up now?)

"Woh... kuch nahi Ma... ungli mein chot lag gayi hai... thodi si" I replied, holding my toe and blinking back tears.

(It's nothing, Ma... just a small injury on my toe.)

She looked at me for barely a second before saying, "Ladki hai... dard jhelna seekh le. Ye tera apna ghar nahi hai. Tera apna ghar to tere pati ka hoga. Tu bas yahan kuch din ki mehmaan hai, Ahana. Ye baat apne dimaag mein achhi tarah bithale." And with that, she walked away.

(You're a girl... learn to endure pain. This is not your own home. Your real home will be your husband's. You are jus

t a guest here for a few days, Ahana. Get that into your head.)

***********

Hey my cuties, well I was sobbing while writing this chapter, I guess so are you 🙂.

I'm waiting for your comments so that we can cry together, c'mon join me 🥲

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