At Indhira Gandhi International airport, Delhi

Anirudh was waiting for his stepbrother.
There was a large crowd so that it was almost impossible to find a person from it.But it never bothered him... He was just standing there and scrolling his phone.

On the other side Agasthya was completely confused. He had no idea about his brother's features. He didn't see any of their photo yet. The only thing he knew was their name.

Agasthya walked through the arriving section twice, but he couldn't see anyone who may be his brother.

"I am a fool... I never thought about collecting his phone number from Papa's PA..." Sighed Agasthya. His eyes were filled with tears. Everything around was unfamiliar to him... He was unable to understand Hindi language very well...

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Agasthya startled by the sudden question and turned back to see the person.

Simran Malhotra smiled at him.

"May I help you?"

Agasthya smiled back nervously.

"Sure... Thank you...I am Agasthya"

"For whom are you waiting, your parents?"

"No... Actually... I am waiting for my elder brother "

"Don't you have a mobile? Just call him then " said Simran and glared him.

Agasthya didn't utter any word. But his silence was enough for her to understand.

Simran slowly patted on his shoulder.

"Do you know his name?"

"Yes... Anirudh... Anirudh Thakur "

Simran's heart skipped a beat.

"You mean... You are son of Rajeev Thakur and Maithili Thakur?"

"Son of Rajeev Thakur... But..."

"Enough..." Simran hold his hands and dragged him to the back of a pillar.

Agasthya stared her with a half opened mouth.

"What happened?"

"Umm... Nothing... I know him... I mean, I can help you..."

Agasthya smiled a little.

Simran told him which side of the airport Anirudh was standing.

"Thank you didi... Thank you so much..."

Replied Agasthya and walked away from her.

Simran's eyes followed him. Her smile vanished immediately.

"Agasthya... "

She murmured under her breath.

"Younger brother of Anirudh Thakur..."

********************

Anirudh looked at Agasthya's reflection on the mirror of the car. They almost reached their house and were completely silent through out the journey. Even though he was a little curious about that how Agasthya found him but he didn't ask it.

They reached at the home.

Before Agasthya could intervene Anirudh picked his bags and indicated to follow him.

Agasthya examined the house with amused eyes. It was a perfect one, like an art piece. He loved that beauty, it gave him confidence.

Anirudh placed all the luggage in a room which was arranged for Agasthya in the second floor.

Agasthya was a little happy. Anirudh didn't say anything which hurts him. So he gathered all his courage...

"Bhaiya..."

Anirudh stopped and turned back.

"No need... Call me Anirudh."

"But you are elder than me, I mean you are my bhaiya..."

"I am your father's eldest son... Nothing more than it...Remember..."

Anirudh's face had no expressions. But his voice was filled with hate... Pure hate.

Agasthya closed his eyes.

'Silence is always better...'

********************

Aaryan watched the entry of his stepbrother into his home. He was standing at the window of his laboratory.

"Aaryan... Remove your gloves
and come here "

He heard Ani's voice and did the same.
But opposite to his expectations Anirudh was standing there alone.

"Oh... I thought you were going to introduce me to your little brother "

Anirudh gasped. Aaryan's words pierced his heart.

Aaryan realized what he said... He never meant to hurt his brother.

Aaryan hugged Anirudh immediately.

"I am sorry Ani... I didn't mean that... It is my habit... Sometimes my words are not in my control..."

"I know. But what made you say that?"

Aaryan broke the hug.

"Why did you carry his bags? Are you his servant?"

Anirudh laughed. Aaryan is always like that. Extremely possessive for his brother.

"Really Aary... Do you think an 18 year old boy can carry them all alone?"

Aaryan sighed. There is no point in masking his fear from his brother.

"I can't share you with him Ani...I don't want you to be his brother."

Anirudh placed his hands on his brother's shoulders.

"I have only one in this world as my brother,My Aary... He is just our father's son... He can't be our brother... Ever..."

********************

Aaryan expected an attention seeker boy who will try to tag himself with them and try to gain their love, but Agasthya was different. He spent all the time in his room sitting near the window. He didn't came to downstairs even at the time of dinner.

It had been a week after his arrival but Aaryan felt no difference.

According to him Agasthya was a daydreamer, just a daydreamer.

So Aaryan didn't mind him when he came to their room.

He was called by Anirudh to fill a form for his college admission.

"Fill this one then show me..." Said Anirudh.

Agasthya wrote everything except one...

"Why did you leave this column ?"

Asked Anirudh while Agasthya didn't give him any reply.

"I asked you, what is your mother's name?"

Shouted Anirudh and that gained Aaryan's attention.

"I don't know..." Whispered Agasthya.

"I can't hear you..."

Agasthya's vision was blurred with tears. It was the question he hate the most.

"I don't know who is she... I don't know anyone other than Papa..."

Aaryan and Anirudh glared each other with widened eyes.

"Ok... You can go..." Said Aaryan looking at Agasthya, who was almost crying.

"What can we do now?"

"I don't know..." Anirudh sighed. "Let me speak with his teacher about this..."

Anirudh took his phone and saw a message in it.
It was from an unknown number so he just ignored with out reading.

*******************

In Agasthya's room.

He was crying heavily and loudly.

He also heard a 'beep' sound from his mobile.

Agasthya wiped his tears, opened the message and read it in between his sobs.

"Your struggle starts right now..."

📌 .............. 📌