Neil woke up with a throbbing headache. The previous night had been stressful. Talking to Arohi about the job, her plain denial, he had tried to sleep, but sleep had given up on him. When he went back to their room, Arohi was missing. He didn't go to find her. He pretended to be asleep when she entered with Akshara. The two sisters had chatted for a minute and Akshara had exited the room.

He knew that he and his wife were going to ignore each other so he simply got ready and descended downstairs for breakfast. Now only 'Maa ke haat ka khaana' can make me happy.

But the scene in front of him shocked him. Abhimanyu and Harshwardhan Birla, at the breakfast table, laughing. With slow steps, Neil went to the table and sat on his chair. 

He felt happy. Happy that his brother was finally trying to create a relationship with his father. He was glad that his brother wasn't holding on to his past, unlike him.

While he was happy for his bro, he was sorry for himself. Sorry for being stuck in the past. He somehow couldn't get past the way Harshwardhan Birla treated him when he was a child, despite his numerous apologies. Even now, when he had everything a person could ask for - a job with a very good income, a lovely life partner, a family; a part of his heart kept on holding on to the bitter memories of his childhood.

Or maybe it was a reminder that he, in reality, he never belonged with the Birlas. A reminder that he ruined his brother- his Abhi bro's happy family. The rational part of Neil's mind had always argued that Abhimanyu's happy family was ruined by his own father's behaviour. But the other part blamed Neil because according to him, Harshwardhan's anger and hatred towards Neil was what led to his awful behaviour with his wife and son.

Though Harshwardhan never loved Manjiri, at least he treated Manjiri better before his official adoption. He felt like he snatched his brother's happiness. He felt like an obstacle between Abhimanyu and Harshvardhan.

And that thought scared him. It scared him to think that he could be the reason for his mother and brother's pain. And that thought, it couldn't let him live in peace. That thought couldn't let him move on from his childhood.

"Neil" he heard a soft voice.

"Yes, bhaiyya?" Neil asked, tilting his head.

"Why aren't you eating?" Abhimanyu asked with sheer concern.

"Uh..I'll finish in ten minutes" Neil replied awkwardly as he started eating the breakfast. Harshwardhan looked down, thinking that Neil was upset because of his presence.

"Finish fast. We'll go together" Abhimanyu said and then added, just to be safe, "what say?"

"Yeah, yeah," Neil said in a muffled voice as his mouth was filled with food and Abhimanyu chuckled, looking at his younger brother.

"Chhote bacche hi ho abhi bhi!" (You're still a small kid!) he remarked and Neil smiled, though his heart pained at the fact that he might be leaving his brother soon.

🍁

"Who are you?"

"I am one of the children of the divine, just like everybody else on this planet, my precious. But you could call me Rose"

"How did you come here..to our country?"

The lady smiled at Akshara before answering.

"I am a wanderer, I wandered my way back home"

"Home? You're Indian?"

"Not in this birth, in the previous birth, maybe"

"How do you..know? And you believe in the seven births?"

"I didn't, before. But after I came here, I think I do believe. Because the connection I have with this place...it's magical"

Akshara snapped out of her thoughts as the peon informed her that she was called to the Principal's cabin. Getting up, she made her way out of the staff room. O Kanha ji, please show me the right path.

🍁

Abhimanyu and Neil drove in silence which was troubling the elder brother.

"So Neil, what's up?"

"Nothing much, bro" Neil replied, "What about you?" he added.

"Nothing very out of the box in my life" Abhimanyu replied.

No, this is not my Neil. This is someone else, who simply looks like my younger brother.

Abhi groaned mentally as he worried that Neil was dwelling on some of his deepest insecurities and pain. Abhimanyu was well aware about his importance in his brother's life, and since some time, the two hadn't been able to spend time like the old times. Abhi was worried that this was hurting Neil somehow.

Even Akshu had complained about him not having time for her.

Screw this job!

Neil glanced at his elder brother, who was looking like a walking, talking, working corpse. He felt sympathy for Abhimanyu who was getting used to being in management, while performing the most serious surgeries in the hospital. Neil had glanced at Abhimanyu's record and in the last four weeks, Abhimanyu had not performed a single surgery in which there was no question about the survival of the patient. He had performed complicated, unorthodox surgeries with extremely less survival chances. Unfortunately, one of the patients had even passed away on the table itself.

If Neil was brutally honest, the only two times he had seen Abhimanyu happy, smiling and alive was at his birthday party and at the breakfast table this morning in the past couple of months. His bro was finally receiving the fatherly love the two craved for since childhood, and Neil didn't want to be an obstacle in this.

For the first time, he didn't want his brother just for himself, Manjiri and Akshara. He wanted Abhimanyu to have Harshwardhan and vice versa. His brother deserved it. He really did.

I am sorry, but not sorry bro. I have to go to Mumbai. This time, I won't be an obstacle between you and Dr. Harshwardhan Birla.

Vote and comment❤️
Do let me know your thoughts!

Arohi low-key got a decent conclusion.
Also, I know this is stupid, but why couldn't they write 'Neil' on the board😭

We have always used 'NeiRohi' and not 'NeeRohi'/'NeRohi' 😭😭😭

Also, I changed the cover, what do you guys think??

Anyway, hope y'all liked this part!

Lots of love ♥️