Chapter- 35

Radha paced restlessly in the empty corridor. It was 2 in the morning, and her grumbling stomach had woken her up. She was hungry. The best option was to step into the kitchen and eat raw Maggi like she used to, but tonight she craved something spicy and sweet at the same time. Cooking was not her forte; entering the kitchen to cook would be like digging her own grave. If her badi maa or bade papa heard, it wouldn’t end well for the house. So now here she was, hovering outside Mahir’s room.

He had come home late from the office, and by the time he arrived, she was already asleep, the impending conversation still hanging in between them, unspoken and unresolved.

Radha stopped, letting out a deep sigh. Ajay had told her to hold the hands that were being offered to her. She should just let go and take that leap of faith, taking the most important step.

Subconsciously, she knew she had taken more than many steps, and so had her brothers. Yet the lingering fear and whispers of caution held her back. Her bhaiya had never said no to anything she wanted; the past few weeks were proof enough. The love she had been craving all her life had suddenly knocked on her guarded heart, trying to break the walls she had been living in..Her fears were genuine, but so was his love.

Eventually, love won! Her hands rose and knocked softly on Mahir’s door. One second late, and she was sure she would have backed off, and it wouldn’t have been the first time. She needed closure. Despite knowing the truth, she told herself she was doing it just for closure. Better to face it than keep running away.

After a few minutes, the door opened. There stood Mahir in his white night kurta and pajama, disheveled hair and concern flashing in his eyes the moment he noticed his sister.

“Kya hua? Sabh theek hai?” His tone laced with worry.

Radha fidgeted with her fingers. ”Bhook lagi hai,” Her voice barely above a whisper.

It took a moment for Mahir to understand what she said, but in the brief stunned silence, he heard her clearly.

Radha took the shock on his face as a sign of rejection. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she slowly stepped back. ”S-Sorry... I-I didn’t mean to dis-disturb...”

“Kya khayegi?” Mahir interjected immediately.

He cursed himself for taking time in processing it. It was just that this was the first time Radha had come to him with that simple need, otherwise, it was always his brothers.

Despite knowing how to cook basic Maggi and sandwiches, Arjun and Abhi liked to wake him up and hog the kitchen, knowing he couldn’t say no. But with Radha... this was his first, and that caught him off guard. He was overwhelmed.

Radha’s head snapped up, stunned at the question.

Mahir ignored the look on her face and gently guided her towards the kitchen, holding her wrist softly. ”What do you want to eat?”

“Cheese toast?” Radha mumbled quietly.

Mahir nodded. ”Sit at the dining table. I will make it quickly.”

“Aur hot chocolate bhi,” Radha added, staring at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

Mahir nodded again. ”Aur kuch chaiye?”

Radha looked at him, baffled. By now, her mother would have scolded her, for wanting to eat so much unhealthy food late at night, then for disturbing her sleep, and would have told her to either sleep or prepare it herself since she was a big girl, not a toddler.

In the end, she would have gone to bed with a wet towel on her stomach, trying to silence her cravings. The option of going to her bhaiya was always open... but she never wanted to hurt her parents, so she never went to him.

“Radha?” Mahir nudged her gently. ”Kaha kho gayi? Kuch aur chaiye?”

Radha shook her head, that was more than enough. Silently, she sat down on the chair, watching her bhaiya move around the kitchen as he took out a pan, then bread, then cheese and so on... working with a quiet, calm, and practiced ease, as if his sister hadn’t just woken him in the middle of the night, asking him to cook after him returning from his whole working day, exhausted and tired.

What did it take for a person to love someone like that? So unconditionally? So selflessly?

The man before her now, cooking for her with so much care and love, wasn’t the charming, ever-so-handsome rockstar, nor the man who could make board members go silent with one sharp look of his. It was just Mahir... her Bhaiya.

Radha’s eyes filled up as the realization dawned on her. He was always her bhaiya. He had always cared for her, even if it meant going against the elders of the house, fighting for her when she herself couldn’t.

There were countless times when her brother took a stand for her, but it was her who always sided with her parents, always becoming their shield, never letting her bhaiya say anything to them, even if it meant stepping away from the only bond that truly cherished her.

Radha rose to her feet, walking straight to Mahir, and hugged him from behind. That too was new... she rarely did that. She had seen Abhi do it, even her bhaiyu, but she had always maintained her distance, not from all of them, but just from Mahir. And despite her pushing him away so many times, he was still here, protecting her, standing by her, cooking for her and caring for her.

“I am sorry,” Radha mumbled, burying her face deep in his back as he stilled.

Mahir tried to turn to look at her, or at least pull her into his warmth, the way her voice cracked unsettled him, but Radha tightened her grip around him, her hold firm, making it impossible for him to move.

“Radha... bacche... kuch hua hai?” His tone softened. ”Kisi ne kuch kaha tujhe?”

Radha shook her head, against his back.

“I know you are angry with me for hiding about the form,” She muttered softly.

Mahir paused for a heartbeat before he replied quietly, ”It’s okay, Radha. I am not angry...”

“You are hurt,” Radha cut him off gently. She stepped back, facing Mahir as he turned. It takes courage to talk about your feelings; it takes an ounce of strength to explain what is going on through your heart and mind. Radha had always shrugged away the conversation, thinking her apologies would settle down everything.

But for the first time, she was realizing apologies could soothe things for a moment but can never heal the real wound. Her parents never asked what went wrong, the explanation, the justification, they only wanted her to submit, apologise and be obedient.

But with her brother, it was different. More than her sorries, he wanted to hear her truth... and she was ready to give him just that, no matter how hard it was for her. She had to try, for the sake of the man who stood by her, always without leaving her hand, even when she herself tried to pull away.

“I-I...” Radha took a deep breath, meeting Mahir’s gaze steadily. ”I wanted to tell you. In fact, main bhaiyu ya Abhi ke paas bhi jaati, but it’s the competition with parents, bhaiya. Aap itne saalon se Abhi ke saath participate kar rahe ho. You always win. Main yeh nahi khe rahi that you don’t have the right to participate with him. Bade papa aur badi maa ke paas jaane se pehle, unse puchne se pehle... he himself chose you. But me...”

Her gaze dropped to the ground; her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt. ”I asked Mom and Dad last year. Dad said... he didn’t want to get embarrassed by me if I failed. Main bas Mumma ke saath perform karna chahti thi.. sirf ek baar kuch aisa kuch karna chahti thi that can bring genuine pride in my parents’ eyes...”

Her voice choked. ”But Dad was against the simple competition. I-I thought Mumma would convince him, but she didn’t. She took her husband’s side. We argued and... none of them believed that I could win the trophy.”

She looked back at Mahir, locking her eyes with him. “Maine aapko nahi bataya because you were busy with concerts and office work. Un sab ke beech mere ek chhote se competition ke liye aap apni energy waste karo... I don’t want that. I don’t want to embarrass you by losing the game and let you down.”

“Maine aapse wada kiya tha main aapse kuch nahi chhupaoongi but... I-I couldn’t keep my word.” Radha held her ears, ”I am sorry.”

Mahir lowered her hand immediately. He heard every small detail, the feelings she poured out for the first time, raw and open, without holding back, and he was proud of her for that. However, he read in between the lines too. Whenever the arguments between Radha and her parents happened, it never ended well for his sister. He had witnessed it and tried to intervene, but Radha never let him step in.

Mahir’s heart ached for the little one before him, who wasn’t even given the chance of a simple competition by her parents. But it wasn’t pity that he felt, there was rage too, for the people he once respected.

But after what Radha had suffered, Mahir felt nothing for Raghav and Payal. Not even the hate or bitterness; you feel for people who matter, Raghav and Payal weren’t worth any emotion at all.

Mahir forwarded his palm towards her. ”Mere saath participate karegi?”

Radha looked at him taken aback. Didn’t he hear what she said?

She averted her gaze. ”I-I’m not confident that I will win...”

“Neither am I confident that I can help you win,” Mahir countered calmly.

Radha looked at him confused. ”Then why are you asking?”

Mahir smiled faintly, cradling her face in his palm. ”Because I want my child to try. Haare ya jeete, ghar sar utha kar lautenge. Lekin participate hi nahi karna result ke darr se... that’s cowardice. And Radhika Dhanrajgir is not a coward.”

“Toh bol, karegi mere saath participate?” He again forwarded his palm.

Radha hesitated. The answer was on the tip of her tongue, yet she held back. “I can embarrass you. You... you are the rockstar, bhaiya. Sab aap par hasenge.”

Mahir lifted her chin, making her meet his gaze. ”People will laugh no matter what you do, Radha. They will try to pull you down. Losing to the world is okay for a moment, they will forget it with time. But losing to yourself... that’s not just wrong, it’s the biggest defeat of all.”

Radha took a shaky breath, gathering her courage, shutting off her parents’ voices that suddenly filtered into her ears. She raised her hand, placing it in Mahir’s. She can do this... and she will. She won’t let her bhaiya’s words go in vain.

Mahir pulled her into his warmth. Each step towards healing was slow and uncertain, but within a few months they had come quite far from where they once stood, and he was proud of her. His heart held one vow: the world would bow down to the Radhika Dhanrajgir he wanted his sister to become, and he would make sure of that no matter what it takes.

✨✨✨

Abhi barged into Radha’s room, making her jump startled. She glared at the creature before her... shameless! Obviously, with that annoying grin on his face, he stood there as if he hadn’t just committed the most repetitive crime of entering her room without knocking. Her bhaiyu and even her bhaiya did that, respecting her privacy, but Abhi was too thick-skinned to be listening to basic manners.

“If you are done cursing, will you come with me now?” Abhi drawled casually. Her sharp eyes were like lasers, but unfortunately, it didn’t work on him.

Radha ignored him, burying her face back in her novel. She was least interested in entertaining him. ”I am busy,” she muttered, turning the page.

Abhi snatched the novel away from her hands without any remorse, dumping it on the bed. He pulled her hand. ”Come with me now.”

Radha frowned. ”But where? Why are you disturbing me yaar? I need to complete the last few chapters…” She was reading an amazing thriller novel, the case was about to be solved, and here her brother was ruining her moment completely.

Abhi brushed off her whine and dragged her towards the garden. ”Bhaiyu has ordered me to bring you down, and I am just following his order. Keep quiet and come with me.”

“Are you fine now?” Radha asked softly, letting him drag her.

Abhi nodded his head.

Radha stopped, pulling him back to face her. ”Now tell me, are you really fine, Abhi?”

Abhi sighed. ”I am, Radha. If I wasn’t, I would have talked it out.”

Radha nodded, following behind him. Since the last few weeks, Abhi had been behaving weirdly, sometimes he went too quiet, and sometimes he was overly excited, as if trying to tell himself to be okay no matter what.

She didn’t understand what had happened to him. Was it because of his upcoming boards, or how the dynamics between him and his parents had changed so suddenly that it affected him? She was yet to understand… or maybe she was just overthinking like her dumb self.

Abhi swallowed the lump in his throat silently. He had his own battles fighting, but he wasn’t pretending when he said he was fine. The secrets his heart held would always be his to carry, for his whole life, till his grave. His sister or even his brothers didn’t need to know about that. He wouldn’t let any past come in between them, shaking their present and future apart.

“Itna time lagta hai kya aane mein?” Arjun chided as soon as Abhi and Radha walked in.

Radha looked at her brother in confusion. ”What are you doing?” The gloves he wore, the way he was sitting around empty flower pots, soil scattered all around, was he trying to open a nursery or something?

“Bhaiyu, are you gardening now?” She couldn’t help but tease, sitting on the rock near the pots, especially with all that mess in the garden.

Arjun shot her a glare. ”Yes! Wanna join me too?” Sarcasm dripped from his words.

Radha nodded. She glanced at Abhi. ”You can help him instead, no?”Or want special Princess treatment sir? To be resting always?”

“Before I throw something at you, would you please save yourself, keeping your mouth shut and help us?” Abhi retorted.

Radha cringed. ”I love flowers, but that doesn’t mean I am dying to spoil my dress or hands. Anyways, I don’t know how to do all this.”

“Well, I can teach you,” Abhi offered with a wide grin, ”But on one condition.. you will have to help me complete my assignment.”

Radha rolled her eyes. ”Thanks, but no thanks. It’s better that I don’t learn this... later to get tortured.”

Arjun passed her the gloves. ”Come on, wear them. I will show you how to plant them, just follow me.”

“What if I make a mistake while planting them and they don’t bloom after?” Radha’s tone was laced with uncertainty. Her bhaiyu liked flowers; he liked taking care of them. The whole garden, each flower, was his hard work and pride. She didn’t wish to spoil it with her clumsy self.

“We are not going to sell the flowers for real, Radha,” Abhi interrupted before Arjun could say anything. ”You can make mistakes and learn. But please stop overthinking everything, and stop turning me into some psychology type person who gives pep talks,” he added sassily at the end.

Radha glared at him, throwing the gloves Arjun had passed her, they landed straight on Abhi’s face. Bingo!

“That was uncalled for,” Abhi hissed, rising to his feet, the soil in his hand ready as he threw it at Radha, grinning mischievously.

Radha shrieked, jumping back as the soil spoiled her dress. ”ABHISHEK!”

“Target practice, dear chipmunk!” Abhi grinned, picking up more soil. ”Anyways, you started it, so learn to handle it.”

“I didn’t throw soil at you. You just wait!” Radha bent down, grabbing a handful of soil, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

“NO...STOP!” Arjun stepped in between them, raising his hands. ”This is a garden, guys. Don’t spoil my...” He trailed off as Radha’s throw landed straight on his shoulder, staining his grey T-shirt into a muddy mess.

“RADHA!” Arjun hissed, ”What the hell did you do...”

Radha gave him a sheepish smile. ”Not my fault, bhaiyu. Aap beech mein aaye. I can’t help it! And anyways, he started it first.” She pointed at Abhi, throwing him under the bus.

“Traitor!” Abhi mumbled to himself. His bhaiyu wouldn’t even touch a single hair on Radha, but with him, he could read the gleam of danger in those eyes. Cautiously, he took a step back, laughing nervously. ”It’s okay, bhaiyu. If you use detergent with warm water, and few drops of lemon juice, the stain will come off.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow. ”Should I thank you for the washing tip?”

Abhi shrugged casually. ”Your wish!”

Arjun bent down, picking up the soil and aimed at his annoying brother. A dangerous smirk tugged at his lips.

“RUN!” Abhi yelled, already sprinting away, missing by an inch as Arjun’s throw flew past him.

“Bhaiyu pagal ho gaye kya? Maine kya kiya yaar. It’s his fault... drown him in the mud! But leave me alone.” Radha said between the laughs, gasping for breath running away from him.

“Ek baar mere haath lag jao dono bas, and I will show you…!” Arjun chased after them, throwing soil left and right.

Abhi dodged, Radha ducked, but in the chaos, Arjun slipped slightly on the loose mud. ”Shit...” He stumbled forward, grabbing Abhi’s collar to balance himself.

“Bhaiyu… leave me...” Before Abhi could complete, both the brothers landed on the ground with a loud thud, their clothes now covered in mud, as did their hands and faces.

Silence fell in just for a moment before Radha burst into laughter, clutching her stomach uncontrollably.

“You both look so handsome.” She took out her phone, cleaning her hands on her hoodie to snap their picture. ”I think, Abhi, you should keep this as the profile pic of your IG account. Those school fangirls of yours… will see the real you and run away themselves. No need for you to pretend to be the bad boy.”

Abhi groaned, sitting up beside Arjun on the ground. He glared at his sister. ”Zyada hasi nahi aa rahi hai tujhe?”

Without missing a beat, he picked up the soil and aimed for his sister. However, Radha ducked at the last moment, the aim missed, but the soil landed perfectly… on Mahir’s spotless white kurta, who just entered the garden.

Abhi and Arjun rose to their feet instantly. Radha froze. Silence… dead silence, scary silence filled in the air.

“Aaj tera din hi kharab hai.” Radha’s giggle cut through the tension. She looked at Mahir. ”You too look handsome, bhaiya!” She muttered, trying to control her laugh, biting her lip.

Mahir glared at Abhi. ”What was this?”

Abhi chuckled nervously. ”Soil, bhaiya.” Why always him?

Mahir took a threatening step towards him. ”Oh really?”

Abhi stepped back. ”Ji… ji bhaiya. Yeh sab aapki bhen ne shuru kiya waise bhi. She threw gloves at me, she was teasing me, and when I retaliated, you entered. Not my fault!”

Mahir glanced at Arjun with a raised eyebrow, “And what about you, Mr. Dhanrajgir? Any explanation? You are the older one, I guess, but…” He looked at him from head to toe, ”For now you look like a toddler stained in dirt.”

Arjun sat down on the ground, tired. He was used to his Bhaiya’s taunts and remarks and was too exhausted to get affected by them. ”Kill these both, roast them, fry them. Your choice. Don’t add me on the menu.”

Radha visibly cringed, “Human flesh… he is not a zombie, bhaiyu.”

Arjun looked at her, done. ”Have you completely lost it, baccha?”

Radha shook her head innocently, ”But maybe you have. How about going and seeing a good brain surgeon?”

Abhi burst out laughing. Their sister had no filters, with that innocent face, she could tease their brothers like a pro.

Arjun looked at Mahir, ”Now? Say something to her. I am waiting for you to give her some lecture.”

“She learned all this from you,” Mahir shot back, wrapping his arm around Radha’s shoulder as she hugged him. ”Go change and wash yourself. It’s not just plain soil or dust from the ground. They contain germs and bacteria, you will fall sick.”

The brothers complied without arguing, walking inside the house. Opportunities like this... escaping the lion after walking into his cage, stomping on his tail, and running away, rarely came; they didn’t wish to miss it by pushing their luck further.

Mahir cleared his throat for effect to gain the attention of the koala bear clinging to him.

Radha whined, ”You love me more. You can’t say anything to me.”

Mahir looked at her, ”Really? That’s why you keep getting away with everything? One day both your brothers will make my ears bleed for siding with you when you play pranks and I scold them when they do the same.”

Radha clicked her tongue, ”No chance! They do it to get on your nerves, I do it for fun...there is a huge difference, bhaiya.”

Mahir shook his head. There was no point in arguing with his brat. She was finally smiling without holding herself back, and that was more than enough for him,and always would be. Slowly but steadily, the shadows that lingered in Radha’s life were fading away, giving way to warmth, laughter, and a life she was finally beginning to live, he always wanted her to live!

 

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