The next day, Aarav walked into Anirudh's room and paused when he saw his brother. Anirudh was sprawled on the floor, his head resting on the edge of the bed, the soft rise and fall of his chest the only indication he was asleep.

Aarav exchanged a glance with Rudra, who had followed him in. Concern flickered in their eyes. It wasn't like Anirudh to sleep so late, especially not on the cold floor like this.

Aarav knelt down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Anirudh... Anirudh, wake up, his voice was gentle but laced with worry.

Rudra crouched on the other side. Bhaiya, it's already 10 o'clock. He never sleep this long.

Aarav nodded, his brows furrowing. "Yeah... Something's not right. Ani, Come on, wake up."

At the sound of his brothers' voices, Anirudh stirred, jolting upright suddenly as if something had startled him.
Bondita?
he called out, his voice hoarse, panic flashing in his eyes for a split second.

Aarav and Rudra exchanged confused glances.
Bondita?
Rudra echoed, puzzled.

Anirudh blinked, his mind slowly clearing as he realized where he was. His brothers were staring at him with concern. He let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to shake off the disorientation.

Good morning, guys,
Anirudh said, trying to force a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Aarav frowned, scanning Anirudh's face. Ani, why were you sleeping on the floor? And since when do you sleep till 10? That's not like you.

Rudra added, his voice tinged with worry, You never sleep this late. And you look...off. Kya baat hai?

Anirudh shook his head, brushing off their questions. I'm fine, guys. Just didn't feel like getting up. No big deal.

But his voice lacked its usual energy, and Aarav wasn't convinced. He exchanged another look with Rudra before pressing again, softer this time, Ani, you're not acting like yourself. This isn't you. Tell us what's going on.

Anirudh's gaze dropped to the floor, his fingers tightening into fists for a moment before he unclenched them. He took a deep breath but still, he didn't offer an explanation. Instead, he shook his head again, his lips pulling into a tight, forced smile.

I told you...I'm fine, Anirudh said, but his words felt hollow, as if they were more for himself than for his brothers.

Rudra's voice softened as he shifted closer to Anirudh, his hand resting gently on his brother's arm, eyes filled with worry. Nahi Bro, kuch toh zaroor hai...
Rudra's voice cracked slightly, as if he could feel the weight of Anirudh's hidden pain. His grip tightened a little, trying to ground his brother in the moment. Aap kabhi is tarah behave nahi karte the.

He searched Anirudh's face, hoping for some sign of truth, his own heart heavy with concern. Hum aapko dekh ke samajh rahe hain, Rudra added quietly, his voice almost a whisper now. Kuch toh chhupa rahe ho.

Anirudh forced a small smile as he reached out, gently caressing Rudra's cheek. Arre waah, mera chhota bhai toh ab samajhdaron wali baatein karne laga, he said, his voice holding a fragile warmth. But his eyes betrayed him-there was a deep, unspoken sadness lingering behind them.

Aarav, still kneeling beside him, leaned in closer, his brows furrowed with concern. Bol naa, Ani... kya hua? Aarav's voice was steady, but there was a subtle edge of worry, the kind only a brother would feel seeing his sibling like this.

Anirudh's smile faltered, and before he could hold back, his eyes brimmed with tears. He didn't say anything at first; instead, he suddenly reached out and pulled both Aarav and Rudra into a tight embrace, as if he was holding on to them for support, trying to steady the emotional storm brewing inside him.

Aarav's heart clenched at the gesture. He could feel the weight of whatever Anirudh was carrying, and it scared him. Kya hua Ani, please... kuch toh bol,
Aarav pleaded softly, his voice cracking slightly.

After a long pause, Anirudh finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper as he recounted everything that had happened the night before. Every word felt heavy, as if each memory was pulling him deeper into a pain he had tried to bury. Aarav and Rudra listened in silence, their expressions a mix of sorrow and helplessness.

When Anirudh finished, Aarav placed a hand on his shoulder. Anirudh, mujhe lagta hai tujhe ab Bondita ko maaf kar dena chahiye,
he said gently, his eyes filled with understanding.
Usne jo bhi kiya, wo uski majboori thi.

Rudra added quietly, Didi bohot zyada guilty feel kar rahi hain, aur unhe unke circumstances ne majboor kiya... unhone apni marzi se aisa nahi kiya..

Anirudh shook his head, his hands trembling slightly as he wiped his tears. Itna aasan nahi hai sab kuch bhool jaana... sab kuch waisa nahi hai jaise tum soch rahe ho,
he whispered, his voice laced with pain. His heart ached at the thought of letting go, but the memories and betrayal felt like an endless weight.

Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Anirudh hesitated for a moment before picking it up, his voice distant. Hello?

The next few words from the caller changed the atmosphere in the room instantly. His face paled as he processed the information.

What...? Okay... I'm coming.

Aarav, noticing the sudden shift in Anirudh's expression, leaned forward. Kya hua, Anirudh?
His voice was tense.

Anirudh's gaze was distant, still processing the call. Ek bus ka accident ho gaya hai... His words were almost mechanical, as if he hadn't fully grasped what was happening yet.

Without wasting time, Anirudh stood up, his earlier emotions momentarily pushed aside as the gravity of the situation took over. Aarav and Rudra exchanged worried glances before quickly following him, knowing that whatever had just happened was far from over.

After some time, Anirudh arrived at the accident site. The scene was nothing short of chaos-scattered debris, injured people crying out in pain, and the acrid smell of smoke hanging heavy in the air. The sound of approaching sirens was still nowhere to be heard, and the desperation in the atmosphere was palpable.

Anirudh's face was etched with tension as he quickly surveyed the scene. Ambulance abhi tak nahi aayi? he asked Samar, his voice tight with urgency.

Samar shook his head, his face grim. Nahi, Anirudh.

Anirudh clenched his fists, frustration building inside him as he looked around at the growing disaster. Do one thing, he said, his voice sharp with authority.
Sab ko hamari gaadiyon se le chalo, isse pehle ke bahut der ho jaye.

Samar hesitated for a moment, his expression darkening further. Anirudh, kuch logo ki death ho gayi hai...

Anirudh's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening as the weight of those words sank in
What...?
he whispered, disbelief washing over him. He pressed his fingers to his temples for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. Oh God... ek kaam karo, dead bodies ko unki families ke paas bhejwa do, he ordered, his voice tight with emotion.

Samar gave a solemn nod.

As Samar turned to leave, Anirudh suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Startled, he turned around and was shocked to see Ansh standing there, his face tear-streaked and trembling.

Ansh? Tum yahan kaise? Anirudh asked, his voice laced with confusion and an emerging sense of dread.

Ansh's lips quivered as he struggled to speak, tears continuing to stream down his face. Bhaiya...
he choked out, his voice shaking with raw emotion. B... Bondita... Bondita didi...

Anirudh's heart sank instantly. His hands gripped Ansh's arms tightly, his pulse racing. Bondita?
he whispered, his voice thick with panic.
Bondita ko kya hua? Kahan hai, Ansh? Kya ho gaya?

Ansh couldn't hold back any longer and collapsed into Anirudh's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Bhaiya... Bondita didi... issi bus mein thi,
he stammered through his tears, his entire body trembling with fear.

Anirudh felt the ground beneath him slip. His heart stopped for a moment, and he froze in disbelief. What...?

The word barely left his mouth as shock overwhelmed him. He pulled back slightly from Ansh, his eyes wide with terror.
Kahan hai? Bondita kahan hai, Ansh?

Ansh, wiping his tear-streaked face with shaky hands, stuttered, Bhaiya... didi mil nahi rahi... Shayad bus ke andar ho... par koi jaane nahi de raha.

Anirudh's breath hitched. The world around him blurred as his mind struggled to process Ansh's words. His knees felt weak, but his heart was pounding in his chest, fueled by raw panic.
Nahi... yeh nahi ho sakta,
he whispered to himself, fighting to keep control of his rising emotions.

Without a moment's hesitation, Anirudh bolted towards the wrecked bus, his mind singularly focused. He needed to find Bondita. The thought of her trapped inside that burning wreck sent chills down his spine, but he couldn't afford to let fear stop him. He had to save her-no matter what.

As he approached the bus, he saw how badly it was wedged between the trenches. The sight made his stomach churn, but there was no time to think about danger.

Just as Anirudh moved to climb in, a group of officers rushed towards him, blocking his path.

Sir, please mat jaiye, one of the officers pleaded, his voice filled with concern.
Bus trench ke beech mein fasi hai, kabhi bhi gir sakti hai.

Anirudh, consumed by fear and urgency, snapped at them, his voice raw. Are you mad? Usme koi fasa hua hai!
His words were laced with panic as he brushed past them, grabbing a rope. Without another thought, he started to descend towards the bus.

With every step, his heart pounded louder in his chest. The moment he entered the bus, the smell of smoke and blood hit him like a wall. His eyes scanned the seats, and then, he saw her.

Bondita was lying across a seat, her face covered in blood, motionless. Anirudh's world came crashing down in that instant. His legs felt weak, but he forced himself to move toward her, his breath shaky and uneven.

Bondita...

He whispered, his voice cracking as tears filled his eyes. He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he touched her face, smearing the blood as he desperately tried to wake her. Bondita, please... aankhen kholo, he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. Please, Bondita... tum aisa nahi kar sakti...

His chest tightened as he gently shook her, panic rising in his throat. Bondita, aankhen kholo, please!
His tears were flowing freely now, as he pulled her limp body into his arms, holding her tightly, almost as if he could will her back to consciousness.

His mind raced as he frantically checked her pulse, praying for a sign of life. For a brief moment, he felt something-faint, but there. Relief flooded his veins as he quickly but carefully lifted her into his arms. Every movement felt like a battle against time, as if the ground beneath him could give way at any second.

Steadying himself, Anirudh began his ascent out of the bus, gripping the rope tightly, his heart pounding with each step. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.

When they finally emerged from the wreckage, Ansh came running towards them, his voice filled with anguish. Bondita didi!
he cried, his face pale with fear.

Anirudh didn't stop. He knew every second counted.

Just then, Samar arrived, slightly out of breath. Anirudh, maine saare injured logo ko bhej diya,
he informed him, but Anirudh barely registered the words. His mind was a whirlwind, focused solely on Bondita and the urgency of getting her to safety.

Together Ansh and Anirudh rushed towards the vehicles, the weight of Bondita's limp body pressing against Anirudh's chest. Each step was filled with dread; he couldn't shake the fear of losing her.

As they reached the waiting vehicle, Anirudh carefully laid Bondita on the back seat, trying to keep her as stable as possible. He could feel Ansh's anxious eyes on him, mirroring his own fears. Ansh, Gaadi chalao
he ordered, his voice firm despite the tremor within.

Ansh jumped into the driver's seat, his hands shaking as he started the engine. "Hurry Up!"
he urged, his voice strained with urgency. Anirudh slid into the back next to Bondita, placing his hands on her shoulders, willing her to awaken.

Bondita, please... tumhe kuch nahi hoga,
he whispered, brushing the hair from her face, desperate to see her open her eyes. His heart ached as he felt her stillness; every second felt like an eternity.

As they sped away from the chaos of the accident site, the city blurred past them. Anirudh's mind raced with thoughts of Bondita, praying for her to hold on just a little longer.

Suddenly, the sound of sirens filled the air, and Anirudh looked out the window to see ambulances racing towards them. Relief surged through him as they approached the hospital, but it was quickly replaced by fear. He had to get her to a doctor, and fast.

Ansh parked the car hastily, and without waiting for the vehicle to fully stop, Anirudh jumped out, cradling Bondita carefully in his arms. The hospital loomed ahead, bright lights cutting through the darkness, a beacon of hope.

This is for today's chapter!
I can't wait to hear your thoughts-what do you think will happen next?

Thank you for your patience and support. Your guesses and comments always inspire me!