Chapter 4: The Brother
1525 Words
Morning didn’t feel like morning.
It felt like a shift.
A quiet, unsettling shift that Meher couldn’t name—but could definitely feel.
She stood by the large window of her new room, arms crossed, staring at the unfamiliar stretch of green outside. The Malhotra estate was silent in a way that wasn’t peaceful.
It was controlled silence.
The kind that existed because someone allowed it to.
And that someone—
Was Aarav.
Her grip tightened slightly.
The images from last night flashed through her mind again.
Photos.
Files.
Her life laid out like a project.
Watched.
Tracked.
Studied.
A chill ran down her spine.
“You were never free.”
His words echoed louder now, sinking deeper with every passing second.
“Creepy,” she muttered under her breath, turning away from the window.
She hadn’t slept much.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it again—that gaze, that presence, like even in the dark, she wasn’t alone.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Her body stiffened instantly.
For a second, her mind went straight to him.
But then—
“Hey… I come in peace.”
The voice was different.
Lighter.
Warmer.
Meher frowned slightly before walking toward the door and opening it.
And just like that—
The atmosphere shifted.
The man standing there looked nothing like Aarav.
Same sharp features.
Same dark eyes.
But where Aarav carried storm and control—
This one carried ease.
A relaxed smile tugged at his lips, his posture casual, almost careless.
“Hi,” he said, raising a hand slightly. “You must be Meher.”
She blinked.
“And you are…?”
“Kabir,” he replied easily. “The less terrifying Malhotra.”
Despite everything, a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
“Good to know there’s at least one.”
Kabir chuckled, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“Trust me, I’ve been trying to tell him that for years.”
Meher stepped aside slightly. “What do you want?”
He shrugged. “Curiosity, mostly. Also breakfast. And maybe to make sure you’re not being held hostage.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Bold of you to assume I’d admit it if I was.”
“Fair point,” he grinned. “But you don’t look like someone who gives up easily.”
Something in his tone—
Light, but observant—
Made her pause.
He wasn’t just friendly.
He noticed things.
“I don’t,” she said simply.
Kabir nodded, as if confirming something to himself.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “That explains a lot.”
Her brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”
Before he could answer—
A voice cut through the hallway.
Cold.
Familiar.
Unwelcome.
“Kabir.”
The shift was instant.
Kabir’s relaxed posture straightened slightly, though the smile didn’t fully disappear.
“Good morning to you too, bhai,” he replied casually, turning his head.
Meher didn’t need to look to know who it was.
She felt it.
That same heavy presence.
That same control pressing into the air.
Still—
She turned.
Aarav stood at the end of the hallway, dressed impeccably as always, his gaze locked—not on Kabir—
But on her.
Sharp.
Assessing.
Possessive.
Her chest tightened slightly, though she refused to show it.
Kabir glanced between them, the tension obvious now.
“Well,” he muttered under his breath, “this feels fun already.”
Aarav walked closer, each step measured.
Deliberate.
Like he had all the time in the world.
“Kabir,” he said again, his tone quieter this time. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Kabir crossed his arms, unfazed.
“Not particularly. Why? Am I interrupting something?”
Aarav’s gaze didn’t shift.
“Leave.”
One word.
No room for argument.
But Kabir didn’t move.
Instead, he looked at Meher.
“You okay?”
The question was simple.
But it hit differently.
Because no one had asked her that since this started.
Not truly.
Meher hesitated for just a second.
Then nodded.
“I’m fine.”
Aarav’s jaw tightened slightly.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
Kabir caught it.
Of course he did.
He smirked faintly.
“Alright,” he said, pushing himself off the doorframe. “I’ll be downstairs if you want actual human interaction.”
Meher huffed softly. “Tempting.”
Kabir grinned.
“Careful,” he teased. “You might get used to it.”
And with that, he walked off.
Leaving behind—
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
Meher turned back toward her room, but Aarav’s voice stopped her.
“You seem comfortable.”
She paused, glancing over her shoulder.
“With your brother?” she asked.
“With anyone,” he corrected.
She let out a dry laugh.
“Should I be uncomfortable instead? Would that make you happy?”
Aarav stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
“I didn’t bring you here to socialize.”
“Clearly,” she shot back. “You brought me here to stalk me in high definition.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“You’re here because you signed a contract.”
“I’m here because you forced one.”
A pause.
Then—
A subtle shift.
Aarav stepped even closer now.
Close enough that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze.
“And yet,” he said quietly, “you’re still here.”
Her breath caught for a second.
Not because of fear.
Because of the truth in his words.
She didn’t look away.
“I’m here for answers.”
Aarav studied her face.
Every flicker of defiance.
Every ounce of determination.
“And you think you’ll get them?” he asked.
“I know I will.”
A beat.
Then—
Something unexpected.
A faint smile.
Not mocking.
Not cold.
Just… small.
“Good,” he said.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
“Good?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Because you’ll need that confidence.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Why does that sound like a warning?”
“Because it is.”
Silence stretched again.
Thicker this time.
Then—
Footsteps.
Kabir again.
“Okay, this is getting awkward,” he announced, walking back into the hallway. “Are we fighting, flirting, or planning a murder? Just need to know where I stand.”
Meher couldn’t help it.
A small laugh escaped her.
Aarav didn’t find it amusing.
His gaze shifted to Kabir.
Sharp.
Annoyed.
“You’re still here.”
Kabir shrugged. “You didn’t say how long I had to leave.”
Aarav exhaled slowly, clearly restraining something.
“Stay out of this.”
Kabir raised his hands slightly.
“Relax. I’m just making sure your guest doesn’t run away.”
“I’m not his guest,” Meher said immediately.
Kabir tilted his head.
“Yeah… that part’s still unclear.”
Aarav’s voice dropped.
“Enough.”
The word carried weight this time.
Even Kabir felt it.
But instead of backing down completely, he glanced at Meher one last time.
“If he scares you,” he said lightly, “just blink twice. I’ll rescue you.”
Meher smirked faintly.
“Noted.”
Aarav’s expression hardened.
Kabir grinned and finally walked away for real this time.
And just like that—
The warmth left with him.
Meher turned back to Aarav.
“You should try being like him,” she said casually.
Aarav’s gaze sharpened.
“Like what?”
“Human.”
A pause.
Then—
Something shifted.
Aarav stepped forward suddenly, closing the distance completely.
Before she could react—
His hand caught her wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Not rough.
But impossible to ignore.
“Be careful,” he said softly.
Too softly.
“Of what?” she challenged.
His thumb brushed slightly against her skin.
A subtle movement.
But it sent a strange tension through her.
“Of getting comfortable,” he replied.
Her breath hitched.
“Why?”
Aarav leaned in just slightly.
Close enough that his voice dropped to something only she could hear.
“Because comfort makes people careless.”
A beat.
“And careless people… get hurt.”
Her pulse spiked.
But she didn’t pull away.
Didn’t show weakness.
Instead, she leaned in just a fraction too.
“Is that a threat?” she whispered.
Aarav’s gaze held hers.
Steady.
Intense.
“Call it a promise.”
For a second—
Time slowed.
The space between them charged with something neither of them named.
Then—
He let go.
Just like that.
As if it meant nothing.
But it didn’t feel like nothing.
Not at all.
“Get ready,” he said, stepping back. “You’re coming with me.”
“Where?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
He turned and walked away without another word.
Meher stood there for a moment, her wrist still tingling slightly where he had held her.
Her thoughts tangled.
Kabir’s warmth.
Aarav’s control.
Her sister’s voice.
And that room—
That room filled with her life.
“This is messed up,” she whispered.
But even as she said it—
She knew.
She wasn’t walking away.
Not anymore.
- Writer
