Chapter- 39

Life was moving forward at its own steady pace. Radha was healing, there were still many things to be talked about, to be understood, and accepted, but Mahir was letting the process unfold naturally, without rushing anything. He wanted his sister to heal on her own terms, not impose emotions on her.

The day of the inter-school competition came, and Radha won the match along with the trophy she once believed she would never be worthy of. Within a week, her name and her Bhaiya’s name would be engraved on it, a moment she had once only dreamed of, now turning into reality before her eyes.

The brothers were leaving the school ground with Radha after the competition ceremony ended, and the parents were dispersing, already walking out of the gates.

Radha spotted Samarth standing in the shed, talking to a teacher.

She looked at Mahir, ”Bhaiya, aap sab jao. Main abhi aayi. (You all go, I’ll come.)” She sprinted away without waiting for their reply.

She wasn’t obliged to do anything, but she still wanted to talk to Samarth. Even after winning, she had hoped to see a gleam of joy in his eyes, but it was absent. She was upset that he hadn’t even congratulated her like he did with her team members, clearly ignoring her.

For Radha, her mentors’ acknowledgment and approval meant a lot to her. A teacher’s guidance and belief in their student can make them achieve things they never thought possible.

Radha always respected Samarth, first for his dedication towards the sport, and for the discipline and motivation he instilled in his students without fail.

Taking a deep breath, she stood behind him at a distance, waiting for him to finish. If it had been Vrushali, her chemistry teacher, Radha would have done the same. She adored only those two in her whole school, so their opinion and validation mattered to her.

“Sir!” She called out once the teacher walked away.

Samarth turned, a frown forming, ”Yes, Radhika? Do you need something?”

Radha shook her head, fidgeting with her fingers, ”I came to apologize.”

Samarth listened intently, letting her continue.

Radha met his gaze steadily, ”I am sorry for taking the decision of backing out on my own. I should have trusted your judgment... it’s just...”

“You got scared,” Samarth finished for her, his tone softening a bit.

Radha nodded hesitantly.

“Fears are the most natural emotion to feel, Radhika,” Samarth said calmly, ”but letting those fears take control over your life is where you go wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, but I am happy you chose to believe in yourself rather than others. Dusro ke vishwas se zyada humara khud par jo vishwas hota hai, usse hum jannat bhi haasil kar sakte hain (More than others’ belief, the faith we have in ourselves can help us achieve even heaven itself). I hope you won’t run away from your fears again in your life and will stand your ground.”

Radha nodded. She will remember that.

“Now dismissed!” Samarth added, ”Your family might be waiting.”

Radha nodded once again, turning to leave. She took a few steps ahead when Samarth called her out.

Radha looked back at him, confused.

“Congratulations, Radhika,” Samarth’s tone laced with pride, ”I am proud of my protégé.”

Radha’s eyes lit up instantly, her heart swelling at his words. She had been dying to hear that. Mumbling a quick thank you, she rushed to her bhaiya. More than winning a match, she was happy to hear those words of pride from her teacher.

Samarth stared at her retreating figure. He noticed her surrounded by her brothers, everyone knew about them. The way Mahir guided her out of the gate and the other two followed behind, everything screamed of protectiveness and silent assurance.

Every year, Samarth came across students who were overconfident, arrogant, and a few just lost and in need of a small push. Radha was the last of them. If she wanted, she could excel beyond expectations, but the girl feared too much, thought too much, and that held her back.

It was rare for him to be harsh with his students, but fifteen was young, yet an age where direction matters the most, and he made sure to give his students just that. He was proud to have a student like Radhika, one who would rise, no matter how many times she doubted herself.

✨✨✨

Radha looked fascinated as her brothers brought her to the sunset point. The sky was painted in hues of golden and purple, the birds flying back to their homes, the cool evening breeze brushing past her skin, everything felt peaceful.

She looked around as Arjun and Abhi joined the foldable chairs and table, while Mahir prepared something in the back of the jeep, his back slightly bent as he arranged everything carefully. She loved that cozy setup, watching the city lights from above the mountains with a perfect view of the sun dipping below the horizon.

“This was your plan?” She asked Shreya, who had joined them earlier on Arjun’s insistence.

Shreya shook her head, ”My brain works at half capacity when it comes to planning surprises.”

Radha chuckled softly. She glanced at her brothers, ”Whose idea was this?” she asked curiously.

Abhi looked up, tightening the rod of the stand. ”Bhaiya.”

Radha smiled, approaching Mahir. She tiptoed quietly towards the car, sneaking up silently behind him, ”BOO!” She whispered loudly, peeking out from behind his shoulder.

Mahir looked at her, as calm as a cucumber, ”I asked you to sit, baache. What are you doing here?”

Radha pouted, hugging him from behind as he opened the snacks, ”You were supposed to get scared, bhaiya.” She sulked without meaning to.

Why does her brother never react the way she expects him to?

Mahir nodded, ”Next time I will make sure that I flinch.” He picked up the container, ”Come on now. Let’s eat.”

“Let me help you...” Radha reached for the disposable bowl, which were heat-sealed and hot. ”Ahh!” she recoiled instantly, pulling her hand back.

“What happened? Show me,” Mahir’s tone laced with concern as he examined her hand carefully. The blisters were already forming.

“Dhyaan kha rehta hai tera, Radha. (You really don’t know how to take care of yourself.)” He glared at his sister, ”Lag gayi na. What is wrong with you? Ek second ruk nahi sakti thi? Har cheez mein jaldi karni hoti hai tujhe! (Couldn’t you wait for a second? You always rush into everything!)” He scolded, pouring cold water on her hand, ”I told you I will do it but no, you...”

“Mahir, apply this on her wound first,” Shreya intervened gently, placing the ointment in his hand.

Radha looked at Shreya, grateful. Soon she was realizing her bhaiya didn’t like when she got injured, even a small ant bite was like a giant knife cut for him.

He wasn’t just overprotective but borderline above the limit of reason. And she had learned to let him be, when he was in that mode, there was no use defending herself, and apologising would be like dancing in front of a hungry lion.

Shreya glared at Arjun and Abhi, who were stuffing themselves. ”You should help your sister there.”

Arjun and Abhi looked behind her in perfect sync, Radha was standing there trying to pacify the angry bear. They looked back at Shreya and shook their heads.

“Bhaiya in his overprotective mode is like an active volcano everyone wants to stay away from. Only Radha can deal with him,” Arjun stated matter-of-fact.

Abhi nodded in agreement, ”Agar hum dono mein se koi hota... (If it were either of us...)” He pointed at himself and Arjun in exaggeration, ”We would have had it from him. He is too soft with Radha.”

Shreya raised an eyebrow, amused. ”Don’t tell me Mr. Ever-So-Charming is getting jealous of his own sister?” She teased.

Abhi looked personally offended. He turned, burying his face in Arjun’s warmth. He was well-loved by both his brothers, but that didn’t mean he had to be the understanding one always, he preferred being the baby brother to his elder brothers more than anything else.

“Kuch bolo na, (Say something,)” Radha mumbled against Mahir’s chest as he stood rigid. She had started to despise the word silence, feeling it was far more suffocating than anger.

“Sorry bolungi toh aap aur gussa karoge (If I say sorry, you will get even more angry),” She continued her monologue, still clinging onto him like a koala bear, ”Aage se dhyaan rakhungi, saachi. Yaar daant hi lo bhaiya, par please baat karo na (I will be careful from now on. Promise. At least scold me, bhaiya, but please talk to me).” She stepped back, displaying her best puppy-eyes look.

The training she had received from her Abhi and Arjun worked in situations like these. She was applied them gladly.

Mahir ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t angry, him going silent was just him being overbearing, which was wrong. However, somewhere in his heart, he wished to witness the side of Radha she had buried deep within herself. If it had been his brothers, they would have made him grovel for scolding them despite them being wounded, all due to their recklessness.

However, Radha, she molded in quickly, gave in easily. He wasn’t a dictator, nor was he interested in becoming one. He simply wanted to see the brat that Radha had once been, a version of her that was maybe lost to him forever. And that pinched at his heart miserably.

Either he was being too much, or she was still too fragile to push, he didn’t know yet, but he refused to give up on his hopes. One day, he knew that he would see the Radha who lived freely without fear.

“I am not angry, baacha,” He said softly, shurgging away his thoughts, ”Just upset. You got hurt, and I hate to see that. The containers are hot. You should be careful.”

Radha nodded. She understood that, both the emotion and the reason behind his reaction.

“Need some help, guys?” Shreya’s voice floated from behind.

Mahir shook his head, “Nothing. You both sit, main yeh leke aata hoon.”

“Bhaiya, main...”

“Radha, tujhe chot lagi hai (Radha, your are hurt),” Shreya cut her off, her tone gentle, ”Go and sit with Abhi and Arjun. I will help your brother.”

Radha nodded, walking away without a word. The sharp glare her bhaiya shot her way when she tried to help again, she dodged it smartly, all thanks to Shreya.

Her Di was like a fairy in her life, not the one who appears for a moment and disappears, but the one who stays quietly by your side and helps without expecting anything in return.

“Thanks,” Mahir murmured quietly as Shreya picked up the fallen spoon and napkins, helping him.

Shreya raised an eyebrow, ”Friendship and ‘thank you’ don’t go well together. You once said that yourself.”

Mahir sighed. He remembered that. It’s just... slowly there were doors in his heart that were opening beyond his control, more than friendship. He was trying to keep them at bay, drawing his boundaries again and again, but it was starting to get harder.

Silently, he took his seat beside his brothers. Radha slid her chair towards Mahir and passed him her rice bowl.

Mahir obliged happily, feeding her with his own hands. When last week she had asked to be fed like Abhi does, he was overwhelmed, that was the second time Radha had asked him for something so openly and without hesitation. He could see the positive changes in her; the therapy was doing wonders. Her steps moving forward were small, even fragile, but for him, they were more than enough.

Abhi whined on purpose, ”Yaar, main bhi yahan hoon. (I am also here.)”

“Aur main bhi, bhaiya, (Me too, Bhaiya.)” Arjun joined, forgetting his own age.

Mahir tried to feed them too, but Radha stopped his hand immediately.

“I won the match today. Aaj bhaiya ke exclusive attention sirf aur sirf mere liye hai. (Today, Bhaiya’s exclusive attention is only and only for me.) The spirits won’t get anything, just shoo away,” She declared smugly.

Arjun and Abhi glared at the little menace, ”Did you just call us ghosts?” Abhi hissed, annoyed. He looked at his bhaiya, ”Tell her something. She can’t insult us like that.”

Mahir’s brows frowned, ”She didn’t use your name, baacha. Why are you getting offended?”

Arjun’s eyes narrowed at him, ”Agar yahi baat hum dono mein se koi aapki baachi ko bolta na toh aap hamari jaan le lete. (If either of us had said the same thing to your precious princess, you would have killed us.) Stop being so unfair, bhaiya.”

Before Mahir could reply, Shreya swatted Arjun’s arm, ”Can you for once act your age? I can understand Abhi, but you.... did you just forget you are 25, Arjun, not five?”

Radha giggled, ”Dekho sach bol diya Di ne, ab toh sudhar jao bhaiyu. (See even Di spoke the truth, at least now grow up, bhaiyu.)” She teased playfully.

Before Arjun could hurl something at her, Shreya intervened instantly. She brought a spoonful of rice near his mouth, silently gesturing him to eat.

Arjun glanced at the spoon and back at her. The earlier retort died down in his throat. Quietly, he opened his mouth. The small gesture, without any expectation or hesitation, fogged his eyes with tears.

It had been a decade, other than Mahir, no one had fed him with such care. Arjun had already started to see a Bhabhi in Shreya, long back when he had noticed the stolen glances, the unspoken understanding between the two. One day, he would show his right more openly, more fearlessly. Till then, he would find comfort in what he had.

“Mujhe bhi! (Me too!)” Abhi slid his chair, shifting it towards Shreya from the other side.

Shreya chuckled softly, feeding him and Arjun simultaneously. They were like younger brothers to her, just like Radha was to her. She and Arjun were just a year apart, he used to address her by her name earlier, but recently he had started calling her Di, just like the other two did. Shreya didn’t know the reason, but she didn’t stop him either, anything was fine with her, as long as it came from affection.

Mahir looked on quietly, as Shreya took care of his brothers. There were no reasons, no calculation, just an emotion steamed out of love. He had always wondered, if he married someone, would that woman understand the importance of his siblings in his life? Would she be accepting of them? Would she make room for them without any reluctance?

There were many doubts Mahir had for his love life. He didn’t wish to entangle a woman in something that was natural for him but could become overwhelming for her. The ease with which Shreya mingled with his siblings, unknowingly helping them, saving them from his scoldings, and even protecting them at times, Mahir couldn’t help but feel more drawn towards her.

Maybe one day, he would confess his feelings. Till then, he would wait. Wait for Shreya to feel the same, of what he might already be feeling. He would never impose his choices or his family on her, respecting her for her individuality, if she didn’t feel the same way.

✨✨✨

It was 10 at night by the time the siblings came back after dropping Shreya at her house. Radha froze at the threshold as she found Ronit pacing the living room. There was a small smile gracing his lips, and that made her wonder what had changed suddenly. 

Within the past few weeks, she had seen a side of Ronit that was rare. He had quieted down a lot; there was a hunch in his shoulders as if he carried the world’s weight. Even his interactions with his own wife had been limited. Sakshi was always out of the house, and when she returned, they both pretended to exist, not like they used to, but like they were obliged to.

“Why are you standing here?” Abhi asked, stepping behind her. He noticed his father, and his protective instincts kicked in. He wrapped his arm around Radha’s shoulder instantly.

“I am fine,” Radha murmured, walking in as Arjun and Mahir joined them after parking the car. She didn’t want any of them to get into any kind of verbal spat.

Mahir was taken aback as Ronit pulled him into a warm hug as soon as he noticed him. He glanced at his siblings uncertainly before stepping back, he couldn’t bring himself to reciprocate the hug.

Ronit felt a pang in his heart as his son pulled away. He knew he deserved it, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“Is everything alright, Dad?” Mahir asked cautiously.

Ronit looked at him warmly, ”The deal you were working on with Singapore clients, they have agreed to sign the contract with our company.” His tone was laced with pride. ”Next week, I have arranged a small party for the celebration of this achievement, and I want to announce something important to everyone present...”

“Party nahi ho sakti, Dad,” Mahir cut him off firmly.

Radha lost her parents just a few months ago, it hasn’t even been six months fully, and his father wants to arrange a party? He can’t! Love or not, he can’t let Radha go through something that was heartless and cruel.

Ronit’s brows frowned, ”Mahir? Party...” He trailed off as realization dawned on him, Raghav and Payal.

A few months back, he had wept for the loss of his brother and sister, but today, after knowing the truths that had cut through his soul, he felt nothing, not the pain of losing them, nor the grief. He just felt numb.

He glanced at his son. Mahir wouldn’t agree, there was no point in arguing further. In the attempt to celebrate his son’s success, he forgot that his son’s loyalty lay towards Radha more than his own father, something he had clearly underestimated.

With a heavy heart, he turned to leave. There was no way he could convince Mahir once he said no. His son had learned from him only how to take a firm stand, and Vikrant’s blood that ran in his veins always guided him towards the right decision.

“Bade papa, ek min.” Radha called out, gathering her courage.

Ronit stopped near the stairs and turned, confused.

“Aap party rakh sakte hain.” Radha blurted out, only to bite her tongue harshly. She was no one to give him permission.

“I-I mean... you wanted to... so... you...” She trailed off, unable to complete. Her courage gave up in front of the eyes that always looked at her angrily or with hate. Today it was neither of them, still she couldn’t bring herself to speak out loud.

Mahir blocked her view, stepping in between his father and Radha. He lifted her chin, ”Ab bol. Kya bolna hai. (Now speak what you want to.)” His tone gentle.

Radha nodded, ”I-I... let the party happen.” She reached out, holding Mahir’s hand in hers. ”Aapka birthday hai next week. (It’s your birthday next week.) And the celebration will be double. Please... let it happen!”

Mahir held her gaze, ”You want it to happen? Fine! Par tu aayegi party mein? (But will you come attend the party?)”

He never celebrated his birthday without his siblings, without Radha. Parties didn’t bother him, but his sister not being a part of them did. If Abhi was allowed, then Radha should also be included without any restrictions.

Radha’s gaze dropped. Her parents took her to high profile parties to display her as their obedient daughter, just like others in their circle.

The only difference was, they had freedom, and she had to follow what her mother asked. She wasn’t allowed to smile or even talk to the ones who were her age, being surrounded by old-school aunties, listening to their rants.

At the same time, Sakshi hated if she attended their own family functions, be it a success party of their company cracking a big deal or birthday celebrations, she was asked to be locked up in her room. So she didn’t know if she could say yes to her bhaiya or no.

“She can, Mahir.” Ronit’s voice cut through the silence.

His answer shocked each of them, that was not something they expected.

Mahir looked at his father, still unsure.

Ronit sighed. He nodded his head, “Radha can attend the party. No one will stop her or say anything to her.”

That “no one” meant Sakshi. Even if he didn’t say it, the brothers understood it loud and clear.

Radha tugged at Mahir’s hand slowly. He looked back at her. ”Let the party happen. Ple...”

“Fine!” Mahir cut her off quickly.

She didn’t need to plead for anything. He would do what Radha wanted. It wasn’t like he was dying to have a grand celebration, but he wanted the world to know that Radhika Dhanrajgir was not alone anymore. Those who looked down upon her or tried to shrug her away, even in the presence of her parents... that came to an end. And he would make sure of that!

 

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