Chapter- 16

Ekta stared at the endless horizon, the stars scattered around the dark velvet sky seemed to shine brighter than ever. It was a moonless night, yet the scene before her eyes felt magical, as if the darkness itself had found a way to glow. It was her first time witnessing it all. The waves crashed against the shore in a restless rhythm. She stood without slippers, letting the cold water touch her feet and slide away like a fleeting whisper of comfort.

Her heart ached with a heaviness she couldn’t name, but the waves somehow soothed a little of the pain she was feeling. An hour earlier, she was blaming Eshita, that the girl was confusing her, but now that she stood there away from everything, she saw things differently. She felt clarity seeping into her veins.

It was on her; she was the one letting Eshita get close, it was her who stepped out, it was her who allowed herself to feel something beyond fear. She had told herself to keep a line when it comes to others. All she had was Ekansh and that’s enough for her. She didn’t want anyone else in her life; she didn’t have to depend on anyone or open herself up again.

The moment she allowed herself to feel even the slightest warmth, she was faced with a reality that shook her fragile sense of control. But now she realized her mistake, she would make sure not to repeat it and keep herself guarded within her own walls. Affection, attachment, or care, none of these emotions were meant for her; they only made her vulnerable, something she could never afford to be again.

“Here.” Eshita forwarded the kulfi she brought.

Ritivk and Vanya were a few steps away with younger ones, giving her space to talk it out with Ekta. Eshita was fine with it. All she had to do was apologise, and she would. When her emotions got out of control, she either ranted in anger or frustration. When something unexpected hit her like a sudden wave, she burst open, or when she felt like she was losing control over herself, she snapped. In either condition, her only intention was to let everything out, negative, positive, or jumbled, it didn’t matter.

Those who loved and understood her knew her inside out. First, it used to be her bhaiya or her mother who listened to her endless rants and emotional outbursts, then came Vikram, Vanya, and Ritivk who stood by her through every storm without questioning her chaos. For her, nothing had changed. They cared enough to be her sounding board, letting her be. When needed, helping her, or just staying there.

But with Ekta, it was all different and unfamiliar. She had to remind herself that Ekta wasn’t used to her ways, nor did she understand her chaos. She didn’t want to forge a bond with Ekta, that was her choice, and no one was imposing it, but she couldn’t snap at Ekta just because she wasn’t able to handle her own fears. She didn’t have that right to hurt someone who had already been through more than she could even imagine.

“Step back and eat it.” Eshita’s tone softened, “Or you will catch a cold eating ice cream while your feet are in cold water at the same time.”

Ekta complied quietly, murmuring a soft ‘thanks’, for the ice cream and the small pity she didn’t want. She couldn’t name it as care because Eshita didn’t care. It was just basic human decency to her.

“Shall we take a walk?” Eshita suggested as the silence stretched.

It was getting uncomfortable and awkward for both of them, and she was the one to be blamed for that.

Ekta nodded silently, walking beside Eshita, her gaze drifting around the surroundings. It felt calm and strangely peaceful. Next time, she would come here with her brother to relax. If her dynamics with Eshita had at least been of mutual understanding, she might have relaxed a bit, but after everything, she couldn’t help but stay cautious around her.

What if she got offended just because she breathed too loudly and left her standing there? Hypothetically, it was impossible. Her subconscious knew the truth, Eshita would never do something like that. Yet, her fears and what she had witnessed made it impossible for her to trust Eshita so easily again.

Her gaze shifted absently, admiring something she had just seen on her phone, before her body stilled like stone. She blinked, trying to clear the blur, the fog, whatever it was, telling herself it was impossible…

The figure standing at a distance, a woman in his arms… that couldn’t be Suraj. It couldn’t be her brother.

She stepped back without realising. If he saw her, he would.... No. She didn’t want to go there. She had run away. She had escaped hell once. Returning there, all because of the mere presence of her brother, was not something she was ready to face again.

She wished she could run to him and cry her heart out, but after he left her in that cage years ago, she didn’t know what to expect from Suraj anymore. Her yearning for something of her own had always been there, but it wavered between love and deep-rooted fear.

She looked away in disgust as Suraj leaned in, kissing the woman openly on the beach. It was night, there weren’t many people, but the dim light was enough for her to see clearly. She couldn’t be wrong about recognising her own brother.She needed to leave. Now.

Her feet moved before her mind could process anything. The ice cream in her hand slipped, forgotten, melting into the sand like something that never mattered in the first place.

Eshita frowned when she didn’t find Ekta beside her. She had been lost in her own thoughts for where to start from, not noticing when the girl disappeared. She turned only to find Ekta rushing toward the car. Confused, she followed behind quickly, her steps picking up pace.

“Ekta!” She called out loudly, her voice cutting through the sound of crashing waves.

Ekta didn’t stop. Her feet moved at a frantic, uneven speed. Reaching the car, she tried to open it, but it didn’t budge. She pulled at the door, frustrated, scared. Her hands trembled. Her eyes burned with tears as old memories came crashing back, clashing in her mind on repeat. The sound of waves in the background grew louder, suffocating, overwhelming. She needed an escape.

Eshita pressed the remote key, unlocking the car. The way the girl was trembling bothered her. What the hell happened so suddenly was beyond her understanding. She reached the car and got inside, as did Ekta, who sat there still blank, breathing rapidly, uneven and shallow as if the air around her had turned heavy.

Eshita reached for the water bottle, opening it. “Here, drink it.” She extended it towards her, her movements slow and careful, trying not to startle her further.

Ekta tried to reach it, to hold the bottle and calm down her nerves, but flinched back as Eshita touched her. “I-I am sorry,” she blurted out, panicked.

Eshita froze. She leaned back, creating distance between them. Something didn’t feel right. She looked around for her phone, only to realise it was with Vanya, and leaving Ekta here alone wasn’t a good option either. She had to calm the girl on her own.

“Take a deep breath, Ekta,” She coaxed gently.

Ekta tried to follow her words, but her chest tightened painfully, her breaths coming out broken and uncontrollable, refusing to steady no matter how hard she tried.

“Agar aaj ke baad tune bhagne ki koshish bhi ki, toh isse bura haal hoga tera.” A harsh, haunting warning rang in her ears.

Her breath hitched as the voice echoed louder, overlapping with the present, her vision blurring as past and present collided. Her fingers curled into her palms, nails digging into her skin as if grounding herself, but it wasn’t enough.

The car felt too small, the air too suffocating, her heartbeat thundering against her ribs. Eshita was calling for her. She tried to respond but a strangled gasp escaped her lips, her body going cold even as her mind burned with fear… and before she could hold on any longer, darkness consumed her senses, her body going limp.

✨✨✨

Eshita paced the hospital corridor, anxious. The doctor was checking on Ekta. The way she fainted scared the shit out of her, she didn’t know what had happened. One minute the girl was breathing heavily, the next minute she collapsed right in front of her.

“Calm down, Esha.” Vanya stopped her friend, holding her hand. “Kuch nahi hoga usse.”

Eshita pulled back from her grasp. She gazed inside the room through the glass mirror. Ekta lay on the bed, unconscious, wires attached to her, the steady beep of the monitor echoing in the silent room, each sound making Eshita’s chest tighten further.

Her bhaiya might be here any time. The moment she reached the hospital, she had called him first. It was Vanya who drove her to the near by hospital. Ritivk wanted to come, but bringing his siblings to the hospital and panicking them didn’t feel right, so he went to drop them home.

Eshita was spiraling in her own thoughts. It was all because of her. Maybe the way she yelled at Ekta made her panic. Maybe the way she behaved triggered something, and she couldn’t handle it anymore. It was her who didn’t control her anger, and the result was, the girl ended up in the hospital.

Ekansh rushed towards the receptionist, his hair disheveled, his clothes creased and hurriedly thrown on as if he had left everything midway just to reach there.

He leaned against the counter, “Abhi abhi ek ladki behoshi ki haalat mein...”

“Bhaiya!” Eshita called out from behind.

Ekansh turned sharply, walking to her in the blink of an eye. Before he could ask anything, Eshita wrapped her arms around him, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Bhaiya vo... the doctor is checking on her. She fainted.” Eshita wishpered, against his chest, “I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden… It’s all because of me. I yelled at her and she...”

“Shhh.” Ekansh murmured softly, rubbing her back in a soothing manner. He exhaled sharply, trying to calm down his own nerves. He never liked self-loathing of any kind. He trusted his sister, she wouldn’t do anything on purpose. Right now, both of them needed him, and he had to stay strong for them.

He waited till Eshita calmed down and pulled back. Gently, he cradled her face, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. “Teri wajah se kuch nahi hua hai.”

Eshita shook her head, “I-I shouldn’t have snapped at her. She fainted because of me or...”

“Eshita!” Ekansh’s tone firmed. He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Teri wajah se kuch nahi hua hai. That’s it! You snapped at her you might have your own reasons. Let the doctor check what happened. I don’t want you to blame yourself. Are we clear on this?”

His firm tone, laced with soft assurance, broke the guilt chain Eshita was drowning in. Slowly, she nodded her head, following Ekansh as he guided her toward the ward Ekta was in.

Ekansh waited with bated breath; it was his first time facing a situation like this. Since the day he had met Ekta, she had never fainted, she was always scared, always on edge, but collapsing like this had never happened.

Only he knew how fast he had driven to the hospital the moment he heard about Ekta, his mind going blank, his only focus being to reach her as soon as possible. Now his restlessness increased with each passing moment. His heart knew she was fine, but his brain refused to understand. He held onto Eshita’s hand tightly, while his eyes remained fixed on the glass, waiting for the doctor to step out, silently praying that everything was okay.

Eshita fidgeted with his fingers like she used to when she was little, her anxiety at its peak. Why the hell was the doctor taking so much time?

Right on cue, the door finally clicked open. Both Ekansh and Eshita straightened at once, their eyes snapping toward the doctor as she stepped out, pulling off her gloves. Before she could even take a step ahead, the siblings rushed to her side.

“Doctor, how is she?” Ekansh started, his voice controlled yet laced with urgency.

“Usse hosh kab aayega? What happened to her?” Eshita added almost immediately, her words tumbling over each other.

The doctor glanced at both of them before speaking calmly, “She’s stable for now. You don’t have to panic.” She gestured towards her cabin. “Let’s talk inside.”

Ekansh looked at his sister. “Tu ruk...”

Eshita shook her head immediately. She wouldn’t be able to.

Ekansh gave in, holding her hand in his in silent assurance. He guided Eshita inside. He knew she wouldn’t say it out loud, but neither would she be able to stay out, dying in anticipation of what occurred.

Ekansh took his seat, stiff and tensed. So did Eshita, settling beside him, her fingers clutching onto his sleeve unconsciously.

The doctor flipped open a file. “I will need some details first. Has something like this ever happened to her before?”

Ekansh shook his head instantly. “No. Not that I know of. She has always been scared or anxious at times, but she has never fainted.”

The doctor nodded slowly, making a note. “Any medical history? Anxiety disorder? Trauma? Anything significant?”

Ekansh paused for a fraction of a second. He didn’t know anything about Ekta. No matter how many times he asked, she never opened up, always scared, too scared to even let him help her in some way. He held his own scars that were still raw and unresolved, but at least he knew he would survive one way or the other, the promise he gave to Eshita was his hope.

But Ekta… the girl was barely ten back then, all ready to give up rather than fight. He had done everything in his power to keep her there with him, always being cautious, gentle, calm, soft. Ekta had relaxed a lot a few years back, she had started to be herself, but she never disclosed about her… even when he asked her countless times.

Ekansh looked at the doctor, what was he supposed to say? He answered what he had noticed, “She… has a past, something I don’t know about. She is scared of hospitals, strangers, needles… whenever she is sick, she prefers herbal medicines than the pills. In fact, she flinches at every tiny sound or raised voice.”

The doctor leaned back slightly, folding her hands together. “From the details you are giving, this is very serious, Mr. Sehgal.”

She looked at both of them before speaking, her tone measured, “Ekta fainted due to a panic attack. It triggered an intense psychological response her body went into a shutdown mode because it couldn’t process the fear or stress she was experiencing in that moment.”

Silence engulfed the cabin.

Eshita’s fingers loosened around Ekansh’s sleeve as the words sank in. Her mind instantly raced back, Ekta’s flinching, the fear in her eyes… everything replayed brutally. She felt her throat go dry.

The girl was barely sixteen and was already suffering from panic attacks? The more she looked into the situation, the more Ekta’s unnatural behavior played before her eyes, the way she would shrink into herself at the slightest change in tone, as if bracing for something worse to come, her heart ached for the silent battles the girl had been fighting all alone without letting anyone see through her.

Ekansh, on the other hand, sat frozen in the chair like a statue, completely still on the outside. But inside, everything shifted. His jaw clenched subtly as the doctor’s words echoed in his head. Panic attack… His mind connected pieces that had always been before his eyes, the fear in Ekta’s eyes, her hesitation, her constant alertness… this wasn’t just fear, this was deeper. Much deeper than he had allowed himself to acknowledge, much deeper than Ekta had ever let him think or come close to understanding. And somewhere, it hit him, he had underestimated what she carried within her.

“Is she going to be okay?” Ekansh asked finally, gathering his thoughts, his voice steadier than he felt.

The doctor nodded, “She will be. But this isn’t something to ignore. She needs a safe environment, emotional stability… she is too young to be dealing with something this overwhelming on her own.”

Her tone gentled, “I would suggest therapy. Panic attackss don’t just happen, Mr. Sehgal. They build up over time. If there is something your sister has buried deep inside and hasn’t spoken about, maybe she can open up in a safe space before it gets worse and can be dangerous for her both mentally and physically.”

Ekansh let the words sink in slowly, he understood the gravity of the situation, but was also aware of the truth, Ekta would never agree to something like therapy or opening herself up to anyone. She didn’t open up to him, then opening up to a stranger was a distant dream in itself.

But he was determined to do all what he could, he won’t let her break down like this again. But how… that was the question. You can only help those who are willing to be helped.

✨✨✨

Ekansh disconnected the call and sank down on the bench, running a tired hand through his hair, he was in so much hurry while leaving that he forgot to inform his father about what had happened or where he was rushing off to.

Ekta was yet to wake up, lying inside the room under observation, even in her sleeping state she was restless, her brows slightly furrowed as if the fear hadn’t left her even in unconsciousness. The doctor had asked him to wait outside, let her relax under the sedative before he takes her home. In a way, it was better, if Ekta woke up in the hospital, she might get down with another panic attack and that was not something he was looking forward to.

All he felt right now was completely out of his depth. He didn’t know how to handle a situation that was so fragile, so unfamiliar and delicate, he could protect her from the world and he would stand like a shield in front of her, but without imposing on Ekta, it seemed impossible. She trusted him, he had seen that, felt that, but her not telling him about her past stemmed out of a fear far deeper than mere hesitation.

He didn’t know how to reach a place inside her where even his presence wasn’t allowed.

“Eshita kaha hai?” A voice cut through the silence suddenly, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Ekansh looked up, only to find a boy standing there talking to Vanya, asking about his sister. He rose to his feet slowly.

“Who are you?” He asked, his voice turning cold.

“Bhai, yeh Ritivk hai,” Vanya introduced instantly.

She was aware of Ekansh’s protectiveness for Eshita, she had noticed that a lot in her school time. Better to save Ritivk, or he would end up with broken bones without meaning to. The boy had just said the name of the precious princess of the Sehgal house without any caution or hesitation whatsoever.

Ekansh blinked. Ritivk… and realization dawned upon him. The same boy his sister had been singing praises about. His protective instincts kicked in on high alert, he would have reacted immediately and asked him to leave, but the concern he heard when he took Eshita’s name couldn’t be ignored either.

Ekansh believed in judging a person beyond just words and appearances. He could either push aside his protectiveness and test the boy, if he was truly his sister’s friend or not, or just ask him get lost.

But the first option felt better. As Eshita had told him how Ritivk had been by her side for the past few years, Ekansh, although meeting the guy for the first time, wanted to see for himself what kind of person his sister trusted so deeply.

“Ritivk, yeh Eshita ke Bhaiya hain,” Vanya added, her voice calm but edged with a subtle warning.

She could see through her friend’s eyes, the way his stance changed immediately in defiance and guarded hostility. She could understand his concern, however crossing a line with someone’s brother was a big no for her and even for Eshita.

“So what?” Ritivk retorted coldly.

The man standing before him might be Eshita’s elder brother, but for him Ekansh Sehgal was the man who had once left his sister behind when she needed him the most. He would have respected the man, even tried to shake hands with him, be a bit kind and polite, but after what he had done to Eshita, Ritivk couldn’t forget that.

In his protectiveness for Eshita and the feelings stirring within him since the last few months, he was crossing a line without realizing, channeling his positive emotions into misplaced anger and resentment.

Ekansh raised an eyebrow, that attitude was not something he expected. He wasn’t waiting for a grand gesture, but at least politeness… Maybe the boy hated him so much that he didn’t even want to show basic courtesy.

“What’s your name?” Ekansh asked kindly. He knew it, he had heard from Vanya, but to break the ice he had to start from somewhere, and this was better than him asking something cliche.

Ritivk scoffed, “You didn’t hear her?” He pointed at Vanya. “Anyways, I am not here to attend you, Mr. Sehgal. I came to meet my friend.”

“Aur kya main jaan sakta hoon kyun?” Ekansh’s tone firmed slightly. The boy was being plain rude, his tone downright disrespectful.

Ritivk raised an eyebrow, amused. “Aur kya main jaan sakta hoon aapko main kyun bataun? Who are you to ask me that?”

Vanya stepped in, trying to pull him back. “Ritivk, you...” She trailed off as Ekansh raised his palm.

He was her bhaiya’s best friend, but no less than a brother to her. She stepped back without a word, unable to say anything. Her gaze drifted back to the entrance Eshita had gone to bring coffee for them all. The girl would be back, she just hoped this would end before she came, or it would be a disaster.

Ekansh glanced at the entrance, Eshita would be back any moment. He didn’t want her to find out about the chaos. His sister praised Ritivk for his friendship; even he could see that. But there was something more than friendship swirling in Ritivk’s eyes... something that didn’t sit well with Ekansh.

If it would have been just pure friendship, he would have handled it calmly and let it pass without a second thought, but the shining, unmistakable attraction was not something he was prepared for or willing to ignore when it came to his sister.

“I think we should talk about this later, Ritivk,” Ekansh suggested calmly, a quiet firmness lacing his tone.

Ritivk shook his head. “I thought you would want to clear things out right now, but you are running away from a conversation, Mr. Sehgal. That’s not something I expected.”

Ekansh’s eyes hardened. He stepped forward, locking his gaze with Ritivk’s. “I don’t run away from conversations, Ritivk.”

His tone dropped into an icy calm, “Especially not the ones that include my child. Neither do I allow anyone to question my place in her life. She is young, so are you... learn to stay within the boundaries of your bond and back off.”

Ritivk’s temper flared. He heard the warning, the protectiveness loud and clear. Any other time it would have unnerved him, but today it just fueled his fire.

He glared at Ekansh fiercely, letting out a small scoff, “A brother who claims to love his sister… be protective of her so much… yet walked away when she needed him the most.”

His tone hardened. “Your protectiveness is understandable, Mr. Sehgal… par yahi protectiveness tab kahan thi, jab aap use chod kar chale gaye the?”

Ekansh stilled, taken aback. He hadn’t expected something this personal, from an outsider. He knew he had made a mistake. The guilt still clawed at his heart each day for leaving behind the sister who was like a child to him.

Ekansh was doing everything in his power to make up for that one decision and protect her now in every way he could, however Ritivk’s personal jab cut open the wounds deeper than they already were. He had been licking them all alone in the darkness of night, but now they seemed raw and exposed right in front of someone else.

“You don’t get to act like nothing happened,” Ritivk added, his jaw tightening. “Aapke jaisa bhai maine aaj tak nahi dekha. A brother like you can’t...”

“Ritvik!” Eshita’s voice cracked through the air like a whip.

The trio turned startled. Ritivk stepped back slowly, steadily, his senses coming back to their place. The fire in Eshita’s eyes told a story of its own.

“How dare you? Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere Bhaiya se aise baat karne ki?” Eshita’s eyes burned with fury.

Ritivk couldn’t look away.

Ekansh pulled her back, “Esha, calm down, okay. He didn’t say anything...”

“He questioned your love for me,” Eshita cut him off firmly. “Aapne jo kiya woh sahi tha ya galat, iss par sawal uthane ka haq maine kisi ko nahi diya hai, Bhaiya.”

She glared at Ritivk disappointment reflecting in her eyes, “I shared my concerns with a friend who I thought wouldn’t judge anyone neither the situation nor my brother, especially after knowing what my bhaiya means to me. But you…”

Guilt flashed in Ritivk’s eyes. “Esha, main bass...”

“I don’t want to know,” Eshita interjected sharply. “Don’t ever contact me again,” Her tone turned cold, her voice shaking despite her resolve. “If a friend of mine can’t respect my brother… then he’s no friend of mine. Our friendship ends here!”

Ritivk stilled, the weight of her words hitting him all at once, his heartbeat spiking up. He just stood there, unable to process how things had spiraled this far. In his blind anger and concern, he blurred the lines between protectiveness and disrespect.

His friendship with Eshita was one bond where there was no judging, no boundaries crossed or lines questioned, however the feelings he had started to develop for her had begun to overpower his sense of balance and understanding, and he crossed a line he never should have in the first place. Losing Eshita was not an option… but will she ever forgive him after this?

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Based on the story till now, What’s your take on each character...

Ekta?
Eshita?
Ekansh?
Ritivk?
Virendra?
Vanya?
Vikram?

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Do share your views!

Next Update: Friday!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

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