After a sleepless night wrestling with everything he'd discovered, Kabir returned to Aarav's penthouse with one goal: to confront his brother and get to the bottom of his double life. He couldn't keep the questions-or his anger-inside any longer.

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Kabir stood outside Aarav's penthouse door, his mind racing. A part of him didn't want to face the truth, but another part knew he couldn't let his brother sink further into this shadowy world. With a deep breath, he knocked firmly, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.

The door opened, and Aarav stood there, his sharp features calm, masking the storm within. Kabir wasted no time stepping inside, his eyes scanning the room. Everything seemed perfectly in place-too perfect, Kabir thought, for a man who was entangled in the underworld.

"You've been avoiding me, bhaiya," Kabir began, his voice steady but his emotions threatening to spill. "Why? What are you hiding?"

Aarav shut the door and leaned against it, his arms crossed. "I've told you before, Kabir. There are things you don't need to know."

Kabir scoffed, his frustration bubbling over. "You think I don't *need* to know? I'm your brother, bhaiya! You've always been my protector, my 'baba.' Now you expect me to just stand by and watch you ruin your life?"

Aarav's jaw tightened, his usually composed demeanor cracking. "I'm not ruining my life. I'm saving it. And I'm saving yours too. But you keep digging, Kabir. Do you even realize what you're stepping into?"

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As the tension grew, memories of a simpler time flickered in both their minds.

The various things we got, we'd face them together. Do you remember that, bhaiya? Or have you forgotten everything we've been through?

---

**Flashback**

Years ago, after one of Kabir's first school events, Aarav had taken him out to celebrate. They shared a cheap meal at a roadside stall, laughing and sharing stories under the night sky.

Aarav had ruffled Kabir's hair and said, "You're going to make me proud one day, baba. You'll make the world a better place."

Kabir had looked up, beaming with admiration. "Only because I have you, bhaiya. You taught me what it means to be strong."

In that moment, it felt like they were invincible, like nothing could ever come between them.

**Another Flashback**

It was years ago, during one of the coldest nights of their childhood. A young Kabir had woken up to find the lights out and the house shrouded in darkness. Scared, he ran to Aarav's room, clutching his blanket.

"Baba," he whispered, his voice trembling. "The lights went out. What if... what if someone's outside?"

Aarav, just a teenager himself, sat up immediately, pulling Kabir close. "There's no one outside, Kabir. And even if there was, they'd have to get through me first."

"But what if-"

"Shh." Aarav interrupted, wrapping his arms around his younger brother. "You don't have to be scared, baba. I'll always be here. Always."

As they huddled together in the cold, Kabir felt an unshakable sense of safety, a bond that he believed would never break.

---

**End of Flashback**

Back in the present, Aarav's heart ached. He could see the same hope and pain in Kabir's eyes-the desire for his brother to be the man he once looked up to.

Kabir's voice wavered as he brought up the memory. "You called me 'baba' because you wanted me to feel safe. But now, I don't feel safe, bhaiya. Not when I see you walking this path. You're not the brother I looked up to anymore."

Aarav's face hardened, but his eyes betrayed the guilt that had been festering inside him. "I'm doing this for you, Kabir. For us. Every deal I make, every risk I take-it's to ensure you never have to face the kind of danger I do."

Kabir shook his head, his voice rising. "You think this is protection? Surrounding yourself with criminals? Lying to me? This isn't who you are, Bhaiya!"

Kabir pressed on, anger and betrayal flaring. "You're the one who taught me to stand up for what's right, bhaiya. So why are you working with these people? If you're in danger, tell me. I can help you!"

Aarav took a deep breath. "I don't need your help, Kabir. I'm in this to keep you safe. Every choice I've made has been to protect you-even if you can't see it."

Kabir's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with bitterness. "And what if I don't want that kind of protection? What if I just want my brother back?"

The silence stretched as Aarav struggled for words. Kabir turned away, his anger faltering, replaced by a heavy sadness. "I thought you were my hero, bhaiya. But I don't know who you are anymore."

Aarav reached out, but Kabir pulled back, his face a mixture of pain and disappointment. "You've lost yourself, Aarav bhaiya . And I'm afraid you're going to lose me too."

Aarav slammed his hand against the table, the sound reverberating through the room. "And what choice do I have, Kabir? Huh? What would you have me do? Walk away? Let these people destroy everything we've built? I've made sacrifices-ones you'll never understand."

Kabir stepped back, stunned by the raw emotion in Aarav's voice. For a moment, the strong, composed figure he'd always seen in his brother seemed fragile, as if the weight of his choices had finally caught up to him.

"You don't get it, Kabir," Aarav continued, his voice quieter now. "This isn't about right or wrong anymore. It's about survival. And if I have to sacrifice my soul to keep you safe, then so be it."

Kabir's fists clenched at his sides. "You keep saying this is for me, but you're pushing me away, bhaiya. How can you protect me when you've turned into someone I can't even recognize?"

Aarav looked at him, the pain in his eyes clear. "I haven't changed, Kabir. I'm still your brother. I'm still your 'baba.' But sometimes, the world forces you to become something else to protect the people you love."

Kabir's voice softened, filled with heartbreak. "And what if, in protecting me, you lose yourself completely?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Aarav looked away, unable to answer.

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Kabir turned to leave, his shoulders heavy with the weight of their fractured bond. Before stepping out, he paused, his voice barely above a whisper. "I hope you find your way back, bhaiya. Because I can't keep watching you fall apart."

Kabir left the penthouse without another word, leaving Aarav alone with the weight of his choices. For the first time, Aarav felt the full impact of what he'd sacrificed-his bond with Kabir, the one person he wanted to protect above all else.

As the door closed behind him, Aarav stood alone, staring at the empty space where his brother had been. The room felt colder, quieter, and for the first time in years, Aarav wondered if he'd made the right choices.

If Kabir wouldn't stay away, he would have to take drastic measures to keep him safe-even if it meant breaking his heart further. As he watched his brother walk away, Aarav clenched his fists, knowing that the deeper Kabir dug, the more danger he was in. And now, he had to make a choice-protect Kabir from afar or risk pulling him into his world completely.

---

The day ends with Aarav picking up his phone, making a call to one of his syndicate contacts. His voice is steady, but his expression is conflicted.

"Make sure Kabir stays out of this. Whatever it takes."

As he hung up, Aarav looked out over the city, his reflection in the glass a distorted mix of the man he used to be and the man he had become.

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**Ending the Chapter**

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Hello guys..........

well tell me what is your favourite part about this story or chapter?

And also tell me what do you think kabir will do next?

Thank you all for reading! I'd love to hear your theories about Aarav and Kabir's next move! Do you think Kabir will push Aarav for answers, or back off?

And if you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to hit that vote button-it helps so much! See you next week with more twists!"