"Ayaan?"

Ayaan couldn't breathe. He stumbled back, colliding with a wall. It couldn't be true...Mihir couldn't be...

"Ayaan!"

Panic rose in him like a tsunami. Terror overwhelmed all his senses. There was a strange tightness in his chest, suffocating him. He couldn't get that board with the name on it out of his eyes.

"Ayaan!"

And then suddenly someone was shaking him hard. Ayaan blinked, and found himself face to face with Ahil.

"Breathe, Ayaan," Ahil commanded. "Saans le. Mihir is fine, it's okay. Just take a breath."

Ayaan stared at him, then grasped his arms. "Bhaiya...?"

"He's fine," Ahil repeated. "He's here and he's okay. Saans le tu."

Ayaan shook his head, still panicking. "Lekin wo list-usmai-"

"Wo hamara Mihir nahi hai," Ahil said gently. "That's someone else. Tere bhaiya theek hai. Relax, okay?"

Someone else? So his bhaiya was really okay??

Relief hit Ayaan like a truck. He slumped down, almost gasping for air. Ahil caught him and pulled him into his embrace. "It's okay, kiddo," he murmured to Ayaan. "You're okay."

Ayaan held onto him. He was shaking like a leaf. Mihir was okay. He was alive. He repeated these words to himself like a mantra, tears blurring his vision.

"Chal," Ahil said. "He's on the fifth floor."

Ayaan needed no more telling. He took off, Ahil following him. Once he'd reached the 5th floor, he was about to ask a nurse when he heard a familiar voice.

"-fine to go, Doctor, really. If there's nothing else-"

Ayaan's heart soared. That was Mihir's voice. He ran towards the room it was coming from and barged in.

And there was his bhaiya, alive and whole. Seeing him, Ayaan felt he could breathe freely for the first time since he'd seen that news headline.

"Bhaiya!" he exclaimed, rushing in.

Mihir turned, suprise coloring his features. "Ayaan? Tu yaha kya-uff!"

He was cut off as Ayaan almost slammed into him, wrapping his arms tightly around him. Mihir stumbled but managed to catch himself and steady Ayaan.

"I'll talk to you later, Mr. Sehgal," the doctor Mihir had been speaking to said, leaving him to reunite with his family.

Mihir nodded, barely paying attention to her. He was focused on Ayaan, who had started crying.

"Ayaan? Baccha mai theek ho, I'm okay. Dekh meri taraf."

But Ayaan continued to cry as he held on to Mihir. All the fear and anxiety of the last few hours poured out of him. His mind flashed back to the few moments when he'd thought Mihir was dead, which made him cry harder.

Mihir gently guided them to sit on a sofa nearby. Ayaan wasn't calming down at all. It was starting to worry Mihir. He forcibly removed his arms from around him and made him sit back. He grasped Ayaan's face and looked him in the eye.

"Mai theek hu, kiddo," he said softly, "Stop crying. Mujhe kuch bhi nahi hua hai, dekh mai yahi hu."

Ayaan nodded, finally beginning to relax a little. He looked at Mihir. "Aap sachmei theek ho na bhaiya?" he asked, sounding like a scared child. "Aapko pata hai kitna dar gaya tha mai! Aap kyu aye yahan Bangalore? Aur flight mai kyu aye? Hamare jet nahi le ja sakte the aap? Aur aap ki koi khabar bhi nahi aa rahi thi, mai-"

"Shh," Mihir shushed, pulling the boy into his arms again. "It's okay, mai sach mai theek ho, okay? I'm sorry maine tujhe itna Dara diya baccha...lekin ab Mai yahi hu dekh tere saamne, mai kahi nahi jaa raha." He stroked Ayaan's hair gently while Ayaan snuggled into him and closed his eyes, taking comfort only his brother's presence could give him.

Just then the door opened again. Mihir looked up. It was Ahil.

The two best friends looked at each other. Ahil's face reflected his fear and relief as he approached. "You scared the hell out of me, Sehgal," he said quietly.

Mihir sighed. He knew Ahil must've been really frightened. This would definitely have brought up bad memories. Keeping one arm around Ayaan, he held the other one out towards his friend, who clasped it tightly.

"I'm really sorry yaar," Mihir said. "I wish I could've contacted you sooner, lekin mujhe abhi Hosh aaya hai. I was just about to call you."

Hearing this, Ayaan pulled back. He frowned at Mihir. "Abhi Hosh aaya hai? Aapko zyada chot aayi hai kya? Hai to aap rest kyu nahi kar rahe? Why aren't you in bed?"

"Mujhe kuch zyada chot nahi aayi hai Ayaan," Mihir hastened to reassure him. "It's nothing serious, honestly. I was just knocked out aur dawai ki wajah se hosh nahi aaya. I'm perfectly fine. Tum logo ko aane ki zaroorat bhi nahi thi."

"You're not perfectly fine," Ahil interjected. "Abhi tere doctor se baat ki hai maine. You've been treated, but you still need rest. You had a concussion too. Tu abhi discharge ho sakta hai but tujhe aaram karne ke liye bola hai."

"Okay, karlunga mai aaram," Mihir replied. "Ghar jaane ke baad karlunga. Bas wo office ka kaam ek bar-"

"Office?" Ayaan cut in. He glared at Mihir. "Seriously, bhaiya? You were just involved in a plane crash and you're talking about office work?!"

"Ayaan mai to bas-"

"Kya bas? Aap bhi na bhaiya khud to chodke har chiz ki kuch zyada hi chinta karte ho."

"Are mai-"

"Tujhe us sab ke baare mai abhi soch ne ki zaroorat nahi hai, samjha?" Ahil said sternly. "I'll take of everything. You only have to rest. And we won't fly back home for a few days. Tu puri tarah se theek hojaega to us ke baad chalenge. I don't want to take any risk with your concussion."

Ayaan nodded determinedly. "Bhai sahi keh rahe hai. Abhi aap kuch mat socho, bas aaram karo."

Mihir sighed. He knew it was hopeless to say anything now. Both Ayaan and Ahil were very protective and stubborn. It was best to just go along with what they said. "Okay, fine," he said. "Mai wahi karunga jo tum dono kahoge, okay? Lekin atleast yaha se to baahar nikalte hai na? The doctor said I was clear to go, right Ahil?"

Ahil nodded and stood up. "I'll do whatever formalities are needed. Ayaan tu ise le aa." Saying so he left.

"Chaliye bhaiya," Ayaan said, helping Mihir stand.

"I can walk, kiddo," Mihir said. "Pair mai chot nahi aayi hai." But Ayaan just shot him a glare, which made him sigh and accept his help without further comments. Honestly, people might say that Mihir worried about Ayaan too much, but the truth was Ayaan was no less!

*

The three of them checked into a hotel nearby. Ayaan made sure Mihir was comfortable in every way, refusing to let him so much as lift a finger. Mihir let him fuss over him. The truth was, after how distant Ayaan had seemed for the last few days, he was more than happy to have his old brother back.

"Tune ghar pe inform kiya ki mai theek hu, Ayaan?" Mihir asked him. "They must be worried."

Ayaan froze. Shit. He had completely forgotten about home. Had Alisha discovered that he was gone yet? He didn't think so, otherwise she would've called him. Ayaan wondered what she would do when she found out. Now that he knew Mihir was safe and sound, he was free to understand just how much trouble he would get into for what he had done.

"Er-bhaiya, mai inform kardunga, aap tension mat lijie," he said quickly. "I'll tell Mom."

Mihir frowned. "Ek kaam kar, mujhe apna phone de. Mai hi Mom se baat karlunga."

"Are bhaiya, a-abhi kyu call karoge aap?" Ayaan stammered. "Kal subah karlena. Abhi to Mom so rahi hogi na?"

Mihir's frown deepened. "So rahi hongi? Ahil told me tune Mom se pooch ke uske saath aya, matlab you told Mom what's going on right? I should tell her I'm fine."

Ayaan sighed. Lying was hard enough for him, but lying to Mihir was even harder. He decided to just tell his brother the truth. "Actually, bhaiya...," he began, hesitating. "Mai...Mai ghar pe bolke nahi aya." He looked down.

"What?" Mihir exclaimed, shocked. "Ghar pe bolke nahi aaya matlab? But Ahil said-"

"Maine bhai se jhoot Bola ki Mom ne permission de di," Ayaan said guiltily. "I just left a note for Mom telling her where I was going...unko kuch bola nahi."

"Oh God, Ayaan," Mihir sighed, running a hand across his face. "Tu kya-"

"Mai aur kya karta bhaiya?" Ayaan said, looking up at Mihir. "Agar Mom ko jaga deta na to wo mujhe bilkul bhi aane nahi deti bhai ke saath. Aur I couldn't just sit at home and wait. Mai paagal ho jata. You have no idea mere dimaag mai kya kya...." He looked away.

Mihir sighed. What Ayaan had done was very wrong, but Mihir had no heart to scold the boy. He understood why Ayaan had done it. Heck, if their places had been reversed, he would probably have done the same thing.

"Idhar aa," he called Ayaan.

Ayaan snuck a glance at him to see if Mihir looked angry. He didn't, thankfully, so he scooted closer to him.

"Don't worry, abhi datunga nahi tujhe," Mihir said. "Lekin I still need to call home."

"Subah mai call karlenge na bhaiya-"

"Nahi Ayaan, hum subah tak wait nahi kar sakte. I still need to tell Mom I'm fine, and that you are here and okay. Agar hamare call se pehle Mom uth gayi to hum dono ki kitni chinta hogi unhe, isn't it?"

Ayaan sighed. Mihir was right, as always. And knowing that his brother shouldn't be worrying about anything right now, Ayaan thought it best to do as he said.

"Fine, lekin-"

A shrill ring tone cut through the air, cutting Ayaan off. It was his phone. He checked to see who it was.

Mom.

Ayaan's eyes widened. Shit. His time was up! Ayaan thought about what to do. Maybe he could-

"See, Mom already khud call kar rahi hai," Mihir said, and before Ayaan could do anything he took the phone from him and answered the call.

Ayaan watched in fear as he spoke to Alisha. Mihir explained everything to her, then told her that he and Ayaan were fine. Ayaan had no idea what his mom was saying in response, but he had a good guess.

"Yes, Mom," Mihir was saying. "Haa Mom aap tension mat lijiye....yes I understand....yes I'll bring him....kal aa jaenge hum....yes..."

Finally, Mihir turned to him. He held out the phone. "Baat karle Mom se."

Ayaan gulped. He shook his head and tried to move away but Mihir stopped him with a stern look. "Take the phone," he ordered.

Ayaan sighed. He took it. "Um....Mom? Hi?" he greeted nervously.

There was silence for a few seconds from the other end of the line. Then, "Ghar aa jao, Ayaan," Aslisha said, and she sounded so furious that it almost sent chills into Ayaan, "Phir mai tumse baat karungi." And with that, the call was cut.

Ayaan looked miserably at his phone. He almost wished Alisha had yelled at him now itself. At least then her anger would be out. Now he would have to deal with her outburst face-to-face.

"Kya kahan mom ne?" Mihir asked.

"Unhone kaha ke mujhse ghar aane ke baad baat karengi," Ayaan sighed loudly. "I'm done for, bhaiya. Is baar to Mom mujhe zinda nahi chodengi. Mera to man kar raha hai Mumbai waapas jau hi na. Lapata ho jata hu idhar, bas ab wahi soultion hai."

Mihir whacked his arm. "Chup kar, nautanki. Tune to jaise tareef karne laayak harkat ki hai na? You think what you did was okay?"

"Daat kyu rahe ho aap," Ayaan whined. "Aap ne Bola tha nahi datonge."

Mihir smiled. "Believe me, ye daat nahi hai meri."

Ayaan huffed. "Haa theek hai, ab bas karo aap. So jao. Paanch baj gaye hai. Raat bhar soye nahi ho aap."

"Soya to tu bhi nahi hai," Mihir replied. "You need to rest too. Come on, tu bhi soja."

Ayaan nodded. Ahil had gotten the two of them one room, knowing that Ayaan wouldn't be able to stay away from Mihir. So now he made sure Mihir was comfortable, then switched off the lights and got into bed himself.

Ayaan placed a hand on Mihir's. It was reassuring. The events of the last few hours flashed across his mind...Ayaan never wanted to experince something like that again. Ever.

"Kya soch raha hai?" Mihir asked, observing how Ayaan's eyes had taken on a distant look.

But Ayaan just shook his head. "Kuch nahi bhaiya," he said. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Mihir smiled at him. He squeezed Ayaan's hand reassuringly. "I am, and I always will be. So jaa ab."

Ayaan nodded. He closed his eyes and the brothers drifted off to sleep.

*

So how was the chapter??

How was Mihir and Ayaan's reunion??

What do you think Alisha will do with Ayaan?

Pls vote and comment!