Ranav stepped closer to his Bhaiya, eyes flicking to the bracelet on Arnav's wrist. "Bhaiya… the bracelet… it's still on you, right? That means you're still… human, at least for now?"
Arnav looked down at the metal band, twisting it slightly between his fingers. "Yes… for now," he said quietly, voice heavy with thought. "But now that I've turned twenty-six, it won't hold much longer. Just like… earlier today."
Ranav's shoulders tensed, but he tried to keep his voice calm. "Okay… I understand." He glanced at Arav, who nodded, his own worry written clearly across his face.
Arav stepped forward, a tentative smile on his lips. "At least… let us hug you before we take you home," he said softly.
For a moment, the three of them just stood there. Ranav and Arav wrapped their arms around him, careful, almost reverent. Arnav let himself sink into their warmth, closing his eyes briefly, savoring the moment. Every second felt heavy with unspoken fears—the fear of losing control, of hurting them, of everything they had all survived so far.
Ranav's hand moved subtly to his pocket, pulling out a small syringe. He looked at Arnav, his voice gentle, almost apologetic. "Bhaiya… I'm sorry. We need to take you home safely. You won't be able to control yourself for long if we don't… I promise it's just a mild sedative. Nothing else. This is just to keep you safe."
Arnav's eyes flicked open, confusion and tension etched across his face. "What… what are you doing?"
"It's nothing harmful," Ranav said softly. "We just… need to make sure no one gets hurt. Including you. Please trust us."
Arnav's body stiffened for a moment, then a heaviness began to seep into his limbs. "Mom… Chachi… everyone… I can't…" His voice trailed off as drowsiness began to take over.
Arav whispered, "We know, Bhaiya. That's why we're doing this. You don't have to fight it. Just… let us help you."
Slowly, Arnav's strength ebbed. He sank into their embrace, eyes closing, his breaths becoming slower, steadier. Ranav and Arav exchanged a brief glance, silently agreeing on their next move.
Carefully, they lifted him between them, mindful of his unconscious weight. Every movement was slow, deliberate, almost ritualistic. They didn't rush. Outside, the world was indifferent, but here, everything mattered.
Once Arnav was settled, Arav gently picked up Pranati and placed her in the backseat beside him. She was still unconscious, her face peaceful, untouched by the chaos that had erupted around them.
Arav's eyes softened as he looked down at the pair. "Look at them," he said quietly, a hint of awkward humor trying to break the tension. "They… they look like a cute couple sleeping together."
Ranav shot him a sharp look.
Arav quickly added, waving his hands nervously, "I don't mean… you know… like that! I just mean… like two people sharing a spot while sleeping. Not… not that way!"
Ranav shook his head but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. He closed the back door gently, ensuring both Arnav and Pranati were secure.
As the car started moving, the late afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows along the road. Inside, the siblings sat in tense silence, hearts heavy yet relieved. For now, Arnav was safe, Pranati was unharmed, and the journey home—though fraught with uncertainty—could finally begin.
The car hummed along the quiet late-afternoon highway, the sun spilling gold across the asphalt. Arav drove, eyes fixed ahead, while Ranav sat tensely beside him, glancing in the rearview at Arnav and the girl asleep in the backseat.
Ranav exhaled slowly. "We can't just leave the bike and the car there… it'll attract attention, and we can't have anyone finding out about what happened."
Arav nodded, gripping the wheel tighter. "Yeah… better we get it sorted quietly."
Ranav pulled out his phone and called a few trusted inspectors from the city station, keeping his voice calm, almost casual. "There's an accident on the highway. Go check it out, make sure everything is cleared safely, and bring the scooter to the city hospital. No drama, no fuss. Just handle it carefully."
He ended the call and leaned back, rubbing his forehead. "That should take care of it. At least the road won't be a mess, and no one will stumble across this before we get home."
Arav gave a small nod, stealing a glance at the backseat. Pranati twitched slightly in her sleep, as if sensing their concern, and Arnav stirred but remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Ranav's hand brushed over the seat beside him. "We just need to get them home safe… that's all that matters right now."
The car continued down the winding road, the air tense but quiet. No one spoke for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts—fears, guilt, and the fragile relief that they had, for now, protected the girl and their brother.
The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the highway, and Ranav's eyes lingered on the rearview mirror once more. "Almost there," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Almost home."
To be continued…