In the evening,

Sidd was sitting in his room, fully focused on the laptop screen. His specs reflected blue as he opened a new window. He thought for a second before writing the point on his dairy. Study and job have become his first priority after everything happened with him. Early, he was a boy who used to be immature, irresponsible, childish, and fondness, but as time passed, his personality had also turned upside down. Now, he is a boy who keeps working with work, is responsible, and is now mature enough. He was sitting on his bed with a laptop in front of him, wearing a pair of trousers and a T-shirt when his door knocked.

Sidd (looking at his laptop screen): Come in!

Abhi entered inside. Sidd's head moved up to see his brother pacing towards him. He shut the screen of his laptop as Abhi sat on his bed, in front of him. Abhi was silent till now. He didn't know how to start. Sidd raised his eyebrow, keeping his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Sidd: What happened, dada? Are you okay?

Abhi looked at him and nodded his hand. Abhi looked at Sidd as he dragged his hand in his.

Abhi: Ashu, I...

He comfortably sat on the bed, dragged Sidd's hand in his before speaking while Sidd looked at him confused.

Abhi (looking down): Ashu, I know I did wrong with you in the past by not trusting you. Reem's words came true.

Sidd looked down at their hands.

Abhi: She said that I would be proud when I would get to know the truth, and today, I am.

Sidd closed his eyes, exhaling sharply.

Sidd (politely): Bhai, can we please not talk about it now.

Abhi: Let me, Ashu! I have seen enough, but now I can't.

Sidd looked at him, confused.

Abhi (tighting his drip on Sidd's hand): I know I did wrong to you, but you forgave me, right?

Sidd nodded, smiling, looking at him.

Abhi (in low voice): Then, why don't you forgive Avneet and start a new life with her?

Sidd's eyes widen as soon as those words come out of Abhi's mouth.

Sidd (in shock): Dada..!!

Abhi: No, Ashu! Don't stop me today. I have been looking at you and Reem for the past 5 years. You both are showing yourself as happy ones when I can see the sadness and loneliness behind your smiles. Don't do this to yourself, Ashu!

Sidd looked down, not knowing what to say now. He looked away as Abhi gestured him to speak.

Abhi (politely): I very well know what is going on in your and Reem's mind. You guys took 3 years to move on. I didn't have any issue, so I gave you 3 years. You took 2 years to build your career that you did. Till when, will you be alone like this?

Sidd (looking at Abhi, holding his hands): I'm not alone. I have you, Reemi, bhabhi, and Viku. How can someone be alone with his family.

Abhi (chuckled humorously): Ashu! I can see your face and tell you about everything in your mind. Viku has changed our lives completely. Vaishu, Viku, and I are happy in their lives, but you and Reemi aren't, Sidd. It's been 5 years since you are punishing Avneet. I know, I very well know you also suffered a lot.

Sidd (exhaling sharply): Then, why are you forcing me?

Abhi: I ain't but convincing you. You know Reem is standing there in terrace as every day. She looks at stars and talks to them. I have seen her crying, watching the stars. She never regretted supporting you, but now she needs you. The way she sacrificed for you, fought for you. It's your turn now. Being alone is the hardest time, and I feel it. I have seen you both fake smiling in front of me and Vaishu when we knew it was fake. Jai isn't a bad guy. He is as innocent as Reemi in all this. Now, you have to stand for them and yourself as well. 5 years are more than enough to punish anyone. I won't let it exceed more. Reem has fulfilled the responsibility of a sister. Now, it is your turn to stand for her. Trust me, just take this one hard step, and then your life will be settled as before. I promise!

Sidd looked at him blankly. He was not expecting anything like that from him. Abhi dropped him in the ocean of dilemma. He looked up to see Abhi smiling at him. Abhi stood up and kissed Sidd's head, patting his shoulder.

Abhi (smiling): Take time, think wisely, and then take a decision.

Sidd looked at him and smiled a bit. Abhi left from there, closing the door behind him, leaving Sidd in a huge dilemma and thoughts.

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

Sidd walked out of his room, lost in his thoughts. He paced towards the kitchen to find no one there. He switched the light on and opened the fridge. He dragged the water bottle and poured it into glass, gulping it down in one go. He exhaled sharply, removing his specs from his eyes.

Sidd (in mind): In which dilemma did you put me, dada...?

He closed his eyes and walked out of the kitchen. As soon as he reached upstairs, his eyes caught Reem standing there on the terrace looking at the sky. Her eyes weren't blinking at all. It seemed like she was lost. Abhi's words rang in his eyes as he stepped towards Reem. As soon as Reem sensed footsteps, she wiped her tears, looking down and turned aside to see Sidd standing beside her. She composed herself quickly and placed a fake smile on her face.

Reem: Bhaiya, you are here and at this time? Is everything alright?

But Sidd didn't answer her and kept looking into her eyes. This made Reem worry as he didn't reply.

Reem (holding his arm, worried): What happened, bhaiya? Are you fine?

Sidd (stern voice): I am, but you aren't.

Reem frowned, looking at him confused.

Reem: Huh??

Sidd (holding her hand): Till when will you punish yourself for me?

Reem (confusingly): What are you talking about?

Sidd (wiping her tears from her cheek with his thumb): Till when will you hide your tears from me?

Reem (wiping her tears, looking away): Oh, these. That time when you are depressed just came to my mind. It's nothing else.

Sidd chuckled and kept his elbows on the railing in front of him.

Sidd (looking at the sky): Why are you lying, Reemi?

Reem (looking at him in shock): I-I am not l-lieing. Why will I?

Sidd (looking at her, straightening his posture): These tears are for Jai, and you are lying because of me.

Reem (fake anger, looking away): Don't take his name in front of me. I don't want to waste my tears for him.

Sidd (side hugging her, chuckling): But you are.

Reem jolted her head suddenly at him. Her eyes were wide open as she was astonished by his questions.

Reem (in mind): Can he read my mind? But how can he know?

Sidd (putting his head on her head, hugging her): I can't read your mind, but yeah, I can see your sadness through your eyes.

Reem closed her eyes as tears leaked her eyes.

Reem (cracky voice): You are hurting me by taking his name.

Sidd (rubbing her arm in hug): And you are hurting us. Despite knowing that you are our only sister and we can't see you like this. Why are you punishing yourself because of me?

Reem (breaking the hug and wiping her tears): I am not punishing anyone.

Sidd: No matter what you say, but you and I, both of us know those tears were for Jai. Yeah, but this sadness and loneliness is because of me.

Reem (turning to him): No bhai, it can never be because of you.

Sidd (holding her hand): Give him a chance. You did a lot for me but now you need to do everything for yourself.

Reem (cracky voice): I am not selfish.

Sidd (holding her chin): You never were, but if I won't do anything for you now. I will definitely be the selfish one.

Reem (whinning): Bhaiyaa..

Sidd (cutting her): Please, Reemi! I can't see you like this. Think about us and Jai if not yourself. He is still waiting for you there.

Reem looked up at him blankly. Sidd raised his eyesbrows and nodded his head while she looked away, thinking for a while.

Reem (looking at him): Then promise me, you will also give a chance to Avneet.

As soon as those words came out of her mouth, she spotted him as a statue. Everything around him froze. It was the weak point which she used.

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New twist 👍😄

Goals: 90 votes and 50 comments.

Words: 1500