Radha closed her notebook with a sharp thud. Leaning back in her chair, she rubbed her face tiredly. It had been over an hour since she had returned from school. After changing into her casual clothes and freshening up, she grabbed a protein bar and sat down to complete her impending notes, which were long and never-ending.
She glanced up at the pinboard in front of her desk. Her timetable was pinned there, neatly written in her own handwriting. Earlier, it had been her mother who made her daily schedule, carefully planning her every hour, subject, and even the tiniest break. But now her mother wasn't there anymore, so Radha made it herself.
Her eyes followed down the list. Online mathematics class at 5. The thought itself made her sigh deeply. She didn't wish to continue with that anymore. The sessions felt overwhelming, and the content was too advanced. She was still in 9th grade and would appear in 10th next year. But on her mother's instincts, the professor was teaching board-level topics. It was her mother's belief that early preparation was essential. Even if the topics weren't immediately relevant, they would eventually help her.
Radha shook her head to snap herself out of the spiral. She couldn't afford to cut anything from her routine. Not now. Not ever. She had just two hours before the math class. In that time, she had to complete her homework and revise the formulas she struggled to remember. After the class, she had to finish the assignment she received earlier in the day and start preparing for the science test next week.
If she dared to slip up even a little, forgetting to complete the task in the allotted time, she couldn't allow herself to read her favorite novel or watch her favorite anime.
The fictional world that was her escape always came at a price for her. To her father, it was a waste of time as she should be reading something relevant instead of stupid fairy tales. But for Radha, it was her solace.
A place where everything made sense, where right was right and wrong was wrong. Where victims became warriors, not just for themselves, but for the world, for justice, and for hope. Where resilience was rewarded, and even the most broken characters could become whole again.
So when it was taken away from her in the form of punishments, it felt like reality had pulled her out of the pages, shattering the safe illusions she wanted to live in and dimming the magic automatically.
Radha blinked away the tears that shimmered in her eyes. No one was here now to check if she was studying or not, if she was following her routine or not. If she asked her Bhaiya if she could quit her online classes, he would agree without question. Like always, he would understand her.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, guilt coursed through her veins. How could she even think of using her parents' absence as an excuse to escape? Everything they had done, every decision they made was for her own good. She couldn't throw that away and insult them like that.
Shame swept over her like a cold wave. Radha picked up her book and started to complete the homework she had received in class. She was acting like a selfish brat. So many children her age had similar routines. Many had it worse. Some didn't even have the privilege of online classes, a desk to study, or the luxury she was living in. And here she was being dramatic just because she couldn't have her daily dose of the fictional world.
Radha sat up straighter in her seat, wiping away the tears that fell down her cheeks without her consent.
Pathetic! She berated herself. She was better than that. Her parents would be ashamed of her.
Taking a deep breath, she focused on the chapter in front of her. She had to do it. She couldn't disappoint her parents. They had done so much for her. She owed them it all.
She repeated the words like a replayed cassette when a knock on the door startled her out.
"I said I am not hungry. Stop bothering me, Abhi," Radha snapped from her place.
Abhi was calling her for lunch, but she wasn't hungry, nor did she have time to sit and eat. Food would only make her drowsy, and she couldn't afford that, not with her revision, assignments, and homework already piling up.
"Radha!" Mahir's firm voice echoed from outside.
She instinctively spun around in her chair and rushed to unlock the door. She always guarded her privacy; her Bhaiya and Bhaiyu always respected it. They never entered without knocking. But Abhi was different, he barged in as if boundaries didn't apply to him. Although she didn't really mind it much, she enjoyed annoying him for that very reason.
When Radha opened the door, she was surprised to see Mahir standing there, holding a food tray.
"May I?" He asked softly.
Radha stepped aside silently. She had been avoiding him since yesterday. It was easier to make excuses with Abhi, easier to remain silent around Arjun. But with Mahir? She couldn't hide. Her Bhaiya saw through her too easily; one glance, and every lie would fall apart. That's why she had been keeping her distance, not for her sake, but to protect him from the chaos she carried.
But now that he was there, standing right in front of her, she had no way out. Turning him away or shutting the door in his face felt like a sin she couldn't commit.
"Turn on the lights, Radha," Mahir said as he placed the tray on the table. "Or at least open the window."
Radha flipped the switch, and white light illuminated the dim room. Her window had blackout blinds that, when pulled down completely, blocked all sunlight. The heavy drapes layered over them ensured total darkness, just how she liked it. She hated brightness. The soft glow of her study lamp and a small wall light were enough for her comfort.
"Why didn't you come downstairs to eat?" Mahir asked, turning to face her.
"I wasn't hungry, Bhaiya," Radha mumbled. His calmness irked her. After everything, he still wasn't angry? That quiet understanding, something she had craved from her parents but never received, made her feel even more exposed.
Mahir raised an eyebrow. "And may I ask why?"
Radha averted her gaze, and it landed on an empty protein bar wrapper and the unopened one beside it. If her brother noticed them, he wouldn't be pleased. He hated when she skipped proper meals in favor of such substitutes. To him, it was a harmful habit.
Mahir shook his head when she didn't answer. He had just returned after dropping Shreya at the airport, and Abhi had told him Radha had locked herself in and refused to eat lunch. A part of him was frustrated and anxious, but he knew this behavior, he had seen it before, and he was determined to break the cycle.
"Sit down," He instructed firmly. "Eat first. Then you can do whatever you need to."
"I'll have it later—"
"I wasn't requesting, Radha," Mahir cut in, his tone unyielding.
Radha blinked, startled. It was the first time he had spoken to her like that. His voice held a rare sternness, yet also a tenderness that nudged her to obey. She didn't understand what had gotten into her Bhaiya.
Mahir sighed in relief inwardly when he didn't see fear or tears in her eyes, only mild shock. He had to stop shielding her so much.
Radha slowly settled on the couch and stared at the plate. Roti, rice, and her favorite paneer curry. She didn't understand why meals she loved were being prepared so frequently. In the morning it was parathas. Yesterday too, her favorite curry rice. It should have made her happy. But instead, it reminded her of her mother's constant disregard.
"What's wrong?" Mahir asked, sitting beside her. "Kuch aur khana hai tujhe? (Do you want something else?)"
Radha snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head quickly. Everything was overwhelming her. She knew her brother meant well, but the weight of his care made her feel even more unworthy.
"Radha..." Mahir reached out but froze when she rose to her feet abruptly.
Radha swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke steadily, "Bhaiya... let's keep things the way they were."
Mahir frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I—I know w-what you're trying to do... b-but you d-don't have to," she stammered nervously. "In fact—In fact, I'm okay with how things u-used to be."
Her fists clenched to her sides, nails digging into her palms as she waited for his response. But he said nothing. The silence stretched until she looked up, only to find him already staring back at her.
Why wasn't he saying anything? Why wasn't he leaving, yelling, or slapping her like she expected? Her parents would have done all of that without hesitation. But Mahir... he stood there, calm and silent.
"B—bhaiya..."
"Say it again," Mahir said, stepping closer.
Radha frowned. "What?"
"You know I don't like it when you avoid eye contact while speaking to me," He reminded her gently. "Now that you're finally looking at me, repeat what you just said. And if you do, I'll step back... just as you want."
Radha swallowed hard. She wasn't foolish enough to repeat those words while looking directly into her brother's eyes. She respected him too much. But she also wanted him to understand, she didn't want him dragged down because of her. She had already lost so much. She didn't want him to receive the same indifference from his parents all because of her.
Radha let out a tired sigh, "Aap yeh sab kyu kar rahe ho Bhaiya? (Why are you doing all this?)"
She asked the question that bugged her the most. It wasn't like Mahir was ignorant or never cared. He always did, but after her parents' death, she was seeing the picture differently.
He was always there, if not him, then Arjun or Abhi. None of her brothers left her side. They always shielded her from her Badi maa's words like before, but this time they were too blunt to care about Sakshi's feelings, her anger, or the fact that she was their mother.
It was like they cared a damn about their parents, and all that mattered to them was their little sister. The thought would have made her happy, that she had someone to lean on, but it made her sad for the cost her brothers had to pay, losing their parents if they sided with her.
"Let's go out," Mahir suggested suddenly, pulling her from her thoughts. "Get ready. I'll ask Abhi and Arjun to join us."
He turned away, taking the untouched tray without waiting for her response, walked out of the room. Wasting food wasn't something he appreciated, but today, he let it go. Reassurance! He reminded himself.
✨✨✨
Radha looked at her outfit, plain white t-shirt and black pants that followed. She tried asking her brothers where they were heading, but Mahir remained tight-lipped. Even Arjun and Abhi were as clueless as she was or refused to tell her.
"Bhaiya?"
Mahir hummed in response.
"Where are we going?" Radha repeated for the nth time.
"Oh come on, Radha, why so many questions?" Arjun said lightly. "You got something urgent to do?"
"Obviously, Bhaiyu," Abhi chimed in. "She must have a meeting lined up with the Home Minister. Right, Radha?"
Radha ignored them, her eyes still on Mahir. He knew her schedule inside out, her online class, her pending revision, it was all time-bound. She glanced at her watch. It was already four. How would she manage everything?
"I canceled your classes, Radha," Mahir informed her gently.
Radha's eyes widened in shock. "Wh—what?"
"You don't need to attend those classes anymore," Arjun said from the back. "And honestly, if this idiot beside me doesn't take extra classes even during his board exams, why should you? Rules should apply to everyone equally."
"Don't call me idiot, Bhaiyu!" Abhi huffed. "I pass, don't I? That should be enough for you and Bhaiya. I just hate studying."
Arjun rolled his eyes. "One day, I hope to hear you say you love studying."
"Not happening," Abhi replied proudly. "Can't lie that big even to make you happy."
Arjun and Mahir chuckled. They didn't expect any better from their little brother.
Radha, meanwhile, sat frozen as the car came to a sudden halt. She looked out; 'Galaxy Mall' gleamed from a banner. She didn't even have time to process anything. Obviously, she felt relieved at the thought of not attending classes, but what about her parents? They'd hate her more for defying their rules.
"Radha," Mahir said softly, holding her hand as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
She looked at him.
"Ghar par tune mujhse kuch pucha tha, right? (At home, you asked me something, right?)"
Radha nodded.
"I'll answer that question of yours. But before that, today is your day. We'll do whatever you want," Mahir said, cupping her face. "Just for today, let your fears rest. Forget what Chachu and Chachi wanted, what they might be thinking, all their expectations and conditions. Leave all that behind in this car. I'm right here with you. Holding your hand."
He squeezed her hand gently. "I won't let go unless you ask me to. Today, I'll follow your lead, Bacche. Let go of your doubts, just for today, and trust your Bhaiya. Will you do it?"
Radha stared at their entwined hands. His grip was strong, steady, reassuring. She took a deep breath and nodded. If not for herself, then for him... she could do this.
✨✨✨
Fifteen minutes later, Radha found herself standing quietly beside Mahir on the ground floor of the mall. As it was raining outside, the mall wasn't bustling like always. Her grip on Mahir's hand tightened instinctively. She couldn't even recall the last time she had been to a place like this.
Her clothes were decided by her mother, all branded and sophisticated, screaming of the class and surname she cared about. Games were deemed a waste of time, and junk food was forbidden as it was unhealthy and led to unnecessary weight gain. The bookstore was her go-to place, but it was also a big deal, especially when she had her routine that never allowed for such mini-adventures.
Now that she was here, she found herself lost. Radha scanned her surroundings, unsure of where to go. Her eyes flickered toward Abhi, silently pleading for help, but he simply shrugged.
"Mujhe aise maat dekh. Aaj tu jahan chalegi, hum wahan chalenge, (Don’t look at me like that. Today, wherever you go, we’ll go with you.)" Abhi said, casually licking his ice cream.
Radha rolled her eyes. He lived to annoy her, just like the rest of them. She glanced at her Bhaiya, who, surprisingly, wasn't even looking at her. Neither was her Bhaiyu.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and they still waited patiently, giving her space to decide. If it had been her mom or dad, they would have snapped at her, but then again, they would have already dragged her without giving her any choice. Her brothers were proving to be exceptional. Her first thought was the bookstore, but she feared her brothers would get bored. Yet they had asked her where she wanted to go...
The indecision gnawed at her. Taking a deep breath slowly, she tugged Mahir's hand. He immediately turned his attention toward her.
"G–Gaming zone?" Radha asked, her voice unsure.
"You want to go there?" Mahir asked, studying her expression.
Radha gave a small nod.
"Then lead the way, princess," Arjun encouraged with a soft nudge.
Radha hesitated for a second and looked at Mahir, who gave her a reassuring smile and gestured for her to take the lead. That in itself was unfamiliar, she had always followed.
But today, her brothers were asking her to guide them.
Drawing in a breath again, she stepped forward, still holding onto Mahir' hand, who followed without a word. So did Arjun and Abhi.
"I think I need another ice cream," Abhi mumbled as he devoured the last bite of his cone.
"No!" Arjun snapped. "Bimaar padna hai kya tujhe? (Do you want to fall sick?)"
Abhi scoffed. "Three ice creams don’t do anything, Bhaiyu. Stop being so dramatic."
Arjun smiled sarcastically. "Say that again in front of Bhaiya. I'd love to see him knock some sense into you. Pehle hi baarish ho rahi hai, teen ice cream already kha chuka hai, aur ab ek aur chahiye? (It’s already raining, you’ve had three ice creams, and now you want another one?) So daring my little brother is no?"
Abhi huffed. "I will get one more. And Bhaiya won’t even say anything."
Arjun raised a brow ammused. "Of course. Because you'll flash those puppy eyes at Radha, she'll melt, convince Bhaiya, and then all will be forgiven, right?"
"Exactly," Abhi grinned, only to yelp in pain as Arjun whacked him hard on the arm.
"Sharam nahi aati? Apni bhen ki innocence ka faayda uthate hue? (Aren’t you ashamed? Taking advantage of your sister’s innocence?)" Arjun scolded.
"Not really," Abhi shot back smugly. "And for your kind information, all three of us know what kind of menace our dear sister used to be. She's just... lost herself a bit. But once she bounces back, she'll be ten times more troublesome than me."
Arjun's lips curved into a sad smile. He would give anything to have that version of Radha back, the one who didn't think twice before pulling pranks, who spoke without filters, who laughed loudly and freely. The same girl who knew exactly how tightly her brothers were wrapped around her little finger.
His gaze drifted to Radha, now walking a few steps ahead, leading them to the gaming zone. Her posture was rigid, shoulders tense. Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder as if trying to read their expressions, hesitant and uncertain. That wasn't the sister he remembered.
A mist clouded Arjun's eyes as an old memory flickered in his mind.
It was an ordinary Sunday. Mahir and Arjun lay sprawled on a shared bed. The night before, all four siblings had huddled together at Radha's insistence, as their little princess wanted to watch her favorite Barbie movie.
Despite their protests, a few overly dramatic tears from her had them surrendering like anything. Even little Abhi, who was just seven, had caved in without a word of protest. None of them could ever bear to see her cry, though Mahir and Arjun had always known it was an act, yet they let it go as the smile that adorned her face was worth every drama she put on.
Halfway through the film, soft snores echoed in the room. The little one had already drifted into dreamland. Carefully, they tucked her in and soon dozed off beside her.
By morning, Radha was up, so was Abhi, albeit rudely awakened by none other than his sister. The mischievous imp had a plan. Grabbing a sketch pen from the study table she doodled on Mahir and Arjun's faces, something she saw on cartoon recently. A giggle escaped her lips as she admired her artwork.
Arjun stirred in sleep. So did Mahir.
In a flash, Radha shoved the sketch pen into Abhi's hand. Before the poor boy could even register what was happening, Mahir and Arjun jolted awake and let out horrified shrieks at the sight of each other's faces.
"What the hell?!" Arjun scrambled upright, "You--Your face Bhaiya." He bust out laughing.
Mahir frowned stumbling toward the mirror picking up the cream tube he threw it at Arjun, "Zayda hass maat. Phele aapna chera bhi dekh le zara. (Don’t laugh too much. First, take a look at your own face,)" He hissed and glared at the brats standing in the room.
Arjun froze and dashed beside Mahir. His eyes widen in shock. Eyebrows were exaggerated, one side of his nose had been turned into a curly mustache, and on his forehead were made mini stars like decoration.
Radha, who had been trying very hard not to laugh, broke into peals of uncontrollable giggles. She clutched her stomach, falling onto the bed, her face red from trying to hold it in.
"Why is he holding the pen?!" Arjun snapped, glaring at a stunned Abhi still holding the sketch pen like it was a live grenade.
"Tune kiya yeh? (Did you do this?)" Mahir asked taking a step threatening step towards his little brother.
"I—I didn't do anything! She gave it to me!" Abhi blurted stepping back. He wasn't risking his skin.
Mahir and Arjun snapped their heads towards Radha who froze and rose to feet to run but Abhi blocked her way.
"Ahhh.... I didn’t do anything!" Radha shrieked and bolted, laughter spilling out of her as Arjun chased her around the room with a pillow in hand. Mahir joined in, circling from the other side to catch her.
Abhi, the traitor-turned-scapegoat, stood in the middle holding the sketch pen, with a pout on his face, "Abhi main nhi baata toh mera achar baana dete dono... (If I hadn’t told them just now, those two would’ve smashed me into pickle!)" he huffed dramatically.
Radha almost screamed as Arjun and Mahir cornered her from both sides of the bed. The fully pillow hit her face making her laugh. Abhi jumped on the bed taking hold on the little devil he tickled her merciless. He would have been dead all because of his sister.
The room was filled with pure, chaotic joy, the kind that echoed in the corners of memory, the kind that lingered.
Arjun blinked back to the present as Abhi nudged him. His eyes found Radha as they entered the gaming zone. Gently, he held Abhi's wrist and guided his brother away with him. Their Bhaiya would know what to do better than he would.
Every time he saw uncertainty in his sister's eyes, his resentment towards his parents increased. They had authority; they had the respect of their younger brother, who never defied their words. If needed, they would have corrected Raghav's mistakes, but knowingly, they themselves were part of the sin Raghav and Payal committed.
A child is like a tender sapling, soft as a blade of grass, with its roots yet to grasp the soil. As he is planted, he will grow with nature, but all by the hands of those who nurture him, taking the plants in their shelter.
But when he is not cared for as he should be, the roots wither, the stem bends, and even the brightest bloom may never see the sun.
Correcting mistakes and teaching the difference between right and wrong are the rights of parents. However, using a child for personal gain, wanting them to become perfect because you couldn't be like that or because you are like that, is something that is unacceptable to Arjun. He had his reasons for distancing himself from his parents, but the major one was how they abused their authority in the household, standing for wrong rather than right.
"Bhaiyu?" Abhi shook him gently. His brother was guiding him to the go-karting, but they passed the ticket counter.
Arjun looked at him startled.
"Aap thik ho? (Are you okay?)" Abhi asked, concerned.
Arjun forced a smile and nodded, "Soch raha hoon Radha ko tere trap mein fasne se kaise rokun. (I’m thinking about how to stop Radha from falling into your trap.)"
Abhi nodded, pretending to go with the flow. He wasn't a fool; he could understand the genuine smile and the forced one. But he didn't probe further. His bhaiyu rarely got upset, and 9 out of 10 times, it was because of their parents. He would have thought better of it or given his parents' actions the benefit of the doubt. But after everything he had seen and was seeing, he just couldn't!
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