Aarav's luxury penthouse was quiet, the city lights casting long shadows across the room. The silence broken only by the steady ticking of the clock. He stood by the window, watching the darkened streets below, his mind focused on the path he'd chosen—one that no one, not even Kabir, could fully understand.

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Aarav waited, watching the door. He knew Kabir wouldn't let this go easily, but he needed his younger brother to stay far away from his world. Every part of him wanted to protect his brother from the harsh reality he had chosen to face, but he also knew Kabir wouldn't back down. He had trained him to be relentless, after all.

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The sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts. Kabir entered, his face a mixture of confusion and simmering anger. "You wanted to talk, Bhayia" Kabir said, his voice clipped. He closed the door, leaning against it with crossed arms. His voice held a trace of bitterness, something that stung Aarav more than he would ever admit.

Aarav turned slowly, meeting his brother's piercing gaze. "Yeh kya baat hui....na hii na hello ........sidha mudhe ki baat.....khair chodo and Yeah!! Thanks for coming," he replied, keeping his tone calm. He knew this conversation could change everything. Aarav could feel the walls of trust they'd built over the years slowly cracking, and he struggled to find the right words.

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"There's a lot you don't know, Kabir. About me, about what I do.... There are things I can't explain... things you wouldn't understand. I'm doing what I have to for justice... There are things I can't tell you... for your .......... own safety." Aarav said.

Kabir clenched his jaw, his fists clenching..."What I don't know is why your company's name keeps showing up in syndicate cases. Explain that and you talked about Justice? You think working with criminals is justice? Whatever happened to the man who taught me right from wrong?"

Aarav's face remained unreadable. "I've made decisions you wouldn't understand. Sometimes, to fight darkness, you have to step into it. That's the world I live in".  Aarav took a steadying breath. He couldn't tell Kabir the full truth—not when it could put him in danger. "You don't know the whole story, Kabir. The less you know, the better."

Kabir's fists tightened. "Are you telling me you're working with them? The syndicate? How could you, Bhayia?"  as he searched his brother's face, looking for a trace of the man he had once admired. "Maybe I don't know who you are anymore, bhaiya."

Aarav took a deep breath. He wanted to reveal the truth, to tell Kabir everything—but he knew it was too dangerous. Not just for him, but for Kabir as well. The syndicate had eyes everywhere.  "It's more complicated than that, Kabir," Aarav finally said. "I'm doing what needs to be done. For justice."

Kabir's eyes narrowed. "Justice? By running a business that's connected to criminals? Do you know what that looks like?" 

Aarav took a step closer, his expression hardening. "I know exactly what it looks like. And that's why I need you to stay out of it. The less you know, the safer you'll be." 

Kabir shook his head, disbelief clouding his eyes. "So that's it? You think you can play both sides and walk away clean?"

 Aarav's voice softened, and for a moment, the hard facade  slipped, revealing the weight of his choices. "I've sacrificed everything for this, Kabir. Just trust me. You know I'd never put you, or anyone I care about, in danger."

The tension between them hung heavy in the air, neither brother willing to back down. But as Kabir looked into Aarav's eyes, he saw a flicker of something he hadn't noticed before—a hidden pain, a burden that went beyond money or power. 

"That's not an answer," Kabir shot back, his voice rising. "For years, I've ignored the rumors. I trusted you because you're my brother. But this... this is too far. People are getting hurt, Bhayia. You're part of it, aren't you?"

Aarav let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the railing, his gaze on the distant lights of the city. "It's not what you think, Kabir. There's more to it—things you can't understand yet."

"Try me," Kabir insisted, frustration mounting. He had always been the black-and-white type, but standing here now, he felt that certainty slipping. 

Aarav's face softened slightly, the mask he wore for the world cracking for just a moment. "I'm not... with the syndicate, Kabir. I'm trying to take them down. From the inside."

Kabir's face fell in shock. "What are you talking about?" 

Aarav hesitated, glancing away. He seemed to wrestle with himself before finally speaking. "For years, I've been working undercover, gathering information. The syndicate trusts me—or at least, they think they do. I've used my company to get close to them, to gather evidence and intel, passing it to special units when I can."

"Evidence? Intel?" Kabir repeated, still trying to process. "You're risking your life... for justice?"

Aarav nodded. "I'm doing what I can. But it's not easy, and it's not without cost." He glanced at Kabir. "The less you know, the safer you'll be. That's why I kept you out of it."

Kabir's anger began to fade, replaced by a cocktail of relief, disbelief, and something he couldn't quite name. But he wasn't ready to let go of his suspicion. "So... you're telling me you've been a mole in your own company? And that you're somehow immune from the dangers that syndicate brings?"

Aarav smiled bitterly. "Not immune. Careful. But now you're too close, Kabir. If they find out you're investigating Singhania Enterprises... if they realize there's a detective—my brother—who could uncover their connections, they'll see you as a threat. And they'll deal with you."

The words sent a chill through Kabir. He wanted to ask a thousand questions, but the truth weighed on him now: Aarav had risked everything, sacrificed his own reputation and safety for something larger. And now, without realizing it, Kabir's investigation had put them both in danger.

After a long silence, Kabir's voice softened. "Why didn't you just tell me, Bhayia? Aren't you trust me enough.."

"Because the less you knew, the better." Aarav placed a hand on his shoulder, meeting his gaze with a fierce determination. "Promise me, Kabir. Drop the investigation. Let me handle this. It's too dangerous for you."

But Kabir shook his head, torn between loyalty to his brother and his duty as a detective. "I can't do that, Baba. You're asking me to ignore everything I stand for."

Aarav's hand fell to his side, his expression hardening once more. "Then you're forcing me to protect you... even if that means getting in your way. I won't let them drag you into this world. I thought if I could handle things from my side, I could keep you safe. You were supposed to stay away from all this."

Kabir shakes his head, hurt... "You don't get it, Bhayia. You're my brother, my family. How am I supposed to just sit back and watch you throw yourself into the fire? Without even telling me?"

Aarav sighs, looking down ...."It's not something you'd understand, Kabir. I've been at this for years. Years of building trust with people I despise, lying every day, risking my life. And I did it all... so you wouldn't have to."

Kabir emotionally ...."I didn't ask you to do that, Bhayia! I didn't ask you to sacrifice everything—your reputation, your life—for my sake. We could've faced this together. Don't you think I would have helped you?"

Aarav said with his voice softens... "I know, Kabir. I know you would have. But you're a good man... better than me. I couldn't let you get tangled up in this darkness. You were always supposed to have a better life."

Kabir with his voice breaking.. "A better life? Aarav, you're my family. You were the one who raised me when Dad left. You were there when I was scared, when I didn't know how to make sense of the world. And now... now you're telling me I was never supposed to know the real you?"

Aarav said softly,  yet regretfully "I never wanted to lie to you, Kabir. But sometimes... the truth costs too much. I thought if you saw this side of me... you'd lose respect for me."

Kabir pauses for a second, struggling to hold back tears.. "I never needed you to be perfect, Bhayia. You're always my idol... I just needed you to be honest with me. You're my brother, and I would have been proud to fight by your side, no matter how dark it got."

Aarav touched but still conflicted "I thought I was protecting you. Keeping you out of this mess was my way of showing that I love you, Kabir. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you... not after everything we've been through."

Kabir..whispering "But you're losing me anyway, Bhayia. Every lie you told... it created a wall between us. And now... now I don't know how to feel about any of this. About you."

Aarav reaches out, voice filled with pain... "Kabir Bacha please. I did it because I love you. Because I wanted to give you a chance at a real life, free of all this darkness."

Kabir pulls away, wiping his eyes  "I understand that, Bhayia. But love without trust... it's not enough. And right now, I don't know if I can trust you."

Aarav swallowing his hurt "Then let me prove it. Let me finish this, and maybe one day... you'll see why I did what I did."

Kabir nods, his voice hollow "Maybe. But until then... you're on your own."---

The two brothers stared at each other, a silent understanding forming between them. They were on opposite sides now, bound by blood but separated by loyalty to their own causes. In the distance, thunder rumbled, the skies darkening with the promise of a storm. But neither Aarav nor Kabir looked away, both knowing that the storm wasn't just in the sky—it was between them, and it had only just begun.

With a final look, Kabir turned and walked toward the door. "I'm not done with this, Bhayia," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you're on the true side, I will find out the whole truth. And I'll do my job." As Kabir left.

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Aarav stood in the silence, knowing he'd just taken the first step down a path that might lead both of them to destruction. But he had no choice. The only way to dismantle the syndicate was from within.

As Kabir walked out, memories of simpler times tugged at Aarav's mind, pulling him back to a nine years ago. The memory of the younger Kabir, the one who used to look up to him with nothing but admiration.....

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