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This is an unedited draft of the book, meaning there will be several grammatical errors, name mismatches, plot discrepancies, and other sematic errors. If that is something you find offence, please do not proceed further.

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Swati Sandeep

When Dev opened his eyes he found himself in a strange place. For a second he panicked and sat upright. A gentle hand held his wrist and laid him back. The touch was all the reassurance Dev needed. He turned around and buried his face into Dhruv's warmth, as the incidents of the night before came to haunt him back with vengeance. He thought he would not make it out alive. He thought he would never see his siblings again. Dev's eyes filled up as the fear grabbed his heart again.

"Tu theek hai, bachcha. (You are fine, Bcahcha.)" Dhruv gently ran his fingers through his hair. "You are safe."

Dev held on too scared to let go. The close call with death made him appreciate the value of life and his family. He remembered the conversation he had with Dheer and his promise to himself. He tried to sit down again, but Dhruv stopped him.

"Doctor ne tugje aram karne ko kahan hai. (Doctor asked you to rest.) Leta reh. (Lay down.)"

Dev shook his head. He needed to talk to his Bhaiya. Dev gently reached for his brother's hand. "Aab bhi gussa ho? (Are you still upset with me?)" His voice shook with emotion.

Dhruv shook his head as he caressed the boy's cheek. "I am sorry, beta...." Dev blocked his mouth with his hand. He did not want his brother to apologize. The only one who was at fault was him. The deception was not letting him breathe.

"Maine aapko dhoka deya hai. (I deceived you.)"

"Don't say that. Tune sach chupaya, woh dhoka nahi hota. (You kept the truth from me, that is not deception.) I overreacted."

"I wanted to tell you about the phone." Dev's eyes filled with sincerity. "Par aap upset the. Di ne kaha ke mujhe wait karna chaye. Main sache aapko dhoka nahi dena chata tha. (You were upset. Di told me that I should wait. I did not wish to deceive you.)"

Dhruv sat down and gently pulled the boy into his arms. "I don't care about the phone, Dev. If you had told me I would have been upset. Of course it's an expensive phone, but I would have understood. It's the lies that I find hard to deal with."

Dev nodded his head. He was well aware.

"As your brother, if I don't make you realize the value of things, you will never learn beta. We have to live within our means." I don't want you to learn things the hard way. The way I did. Dhruv left the last part unsaid, not willing to burden the boy with the past.

Dev nodded his head. He understood that well, but sometimes he could not control his impulses. However, that was not the issue that worried him. He needed to tell Dhruv everything. The conversation with Dheer helped him evaluate the situation better. Dheer... Dev remembered that the other boy was stuck with him in the freezer.

"Bhai kidhar hai? (Where is Bhai?)" Dev looked around hoping to find him. If he survived the cold it was because of Dheer. Without him he would not have known what to do. Dev could never forget how Dheer held on to him. He had felt as safe with Dheer as he felt with Dhruv.

Dhruv remained silent. He did not know how to tell him about Dheer. The boy's situation was still critical. Aman managed to get Dheer's medical records. The boy suffered from CKD. Dhreer was seven when he suffered a fatal accident that damaged one of his kidneys. Though he was healthy, the damaged kidney stopped functioning. His recovery was being delayed because his body was struggling to cope up. Now that the doctors had his medical records they could help him better, but Dr. Sinha was being too tight-lipped. No one was allowed to meet Dheer yet.

"Kuch bolo na, Bhaiya. Bhai kaha hai? Woh theek hai na? (Say something, Bhaiya. How is Bhai? Is he fine?)"

Dhruv nodded his head not willing to distress Dev, but Dev could easily read his brother's emotions. "Aap itne upset kyun lag rahe ho? (Why do you look so upset?)"

"Dheer is being treated, Dev." Dhruv told him gently. "Don't worry about him. He will be better soon."

Dev shook his head, his eyes filling up. "Agar Bhai waha mere saath nahi hotey to main situation handle nahi kar pata, Bhaiya. (If Bhai was not there with me, I would not have been able to deal with the situation, Bhaiya.) I was terrified. I thought I would never see you again."

"Chup. (Shush!). Don't say that." Dhruv's eyes misted, the very thought terrified him.

Dev warped his arms around Dhruv's torso and buried his face into his warmth. Dhruv gently rocked him. The doctors advised rest for Dev, the boy needed to sleep. He was distressing himself.

"It's okay, beta. You are safe now. Let's not think about it. Soja tu. (Sleep now.) We will talk later.)"

Dev wanted to protest, but his eyes were dropping. The emotional outburst had taken a toll on him. He knew he had to talk to his Bhaiya but it was a struggle to keep his eyes open. The gentle touch lulled him to sleep. He drifted off feeling safe.

Once Dheer was sure that the boy had slept he gently lowered him back on the bed. The tears ripped at his soul. He gently wiped them away and placed a warm kiss on his forehead. Even asleep, a small smile lit up Dev's face. Dhruv could do anything to protect the smile.

Dhruv was going to check on Dheer when the duty nurse came looking for him. She was the one who was taking care of Dev.

"My shift is changing, sir." She offered him a polite smile. "A new nurse will look after Dev tonight. Don't worry he will be in safe hands."

Dhruv nodded his head. He knew that. Dhrti's presence made a lot of difference. They all knew her so they made sure her family was treated well. "I wanted to give you this." She handed him a packet of Dev's belongings. It was a hospital policy to store all the patient belongings when they were brought to the ER. The belongings were then handed to the family members. The staff made sure that no item was ever misplaced. They took great pride in their service.

Dhruv reached for the packet, gratefully. Dev was wearing a gold chain. It was their mothers last memory. He was glad it was not lost or the boy would be even more upset. He thanked the nurse and made his way to Dev's room. He was placing the packet on the table when he noticed a yellow T-shirt. It was not Dev's but Dhruv's. The boy had been wearing it when he came into the kitchen. Dhruv could not be mistaken, he could see the curry stains on the t-shirt. Dheer was always spilling something or the other in the kitchen.

Dhruv was surprised that the staff mixed up the belongings. He quickly checked the packet and noticed that the rest of the stuff belonged to Dev. Only the T-shirt belonged to Dheer. He thought they messed up but then he remembered that Dhruv was found without a shirt. The packet slipped from his hands as he realized what happened. The boy compromised his safety to protect Dev. A stranger put himself at risk to save his child. His eyes filled up. There was a time when he turned away from a brother in need, and now a stranger had stepped in to help his child.

Dhruv tried to wipe away the guilt but no matter how hard he tried he could not forget the innocent face or the tears. Where he failed as a brother and a human, a stranger succeeded putting him to shame. Regrets could not turn back time or undo his mistakes. He had to carry the guilt to his grave. That was his only punishment.

Dhriti had to sit down, as her emotions overwhelmed her. She did not wish to believe but the proof was right in front of her. The boy who claimed to not care for them had put himself at risk to save their brother. She did not know what to make of it. The boy who walked in with a check, blackmailed him so ruthlessly had saved their baby brother. The question was, why?

"He has a big heart, Dhriti." Dhruv's voice was thick with sadness. "He is a far better person than me."

Dhriti did not realize that she had spoken out her thoughts. She heard the pain in Dhruv's voice and gently reached for his hand. She knew what he was thinking about. He was still blaming himself for what happened, but it was not his mistake. He did what he had to do to protect them. It could not be a mistake.

"Don't go there, Dhruv. Tu janta hai ke woh karna zaruri tha. (You know you had to do it.) Mumma was terrified. You did not have a choice."

"We always have a choice, Dhriti. That kid taught us that today. I chose the easy way and he did the right thing." Dhruv shook his head. "Sahe kya hai galat kya hai yeh hum dono jante hai. (We both know what is right and wrong.) We owe our child's life to the boy. If something happens to Dheer now, I will never be able to forgive myself."

Dhrti shook her head. "Teri galti nahi (It's not your fault)..."

"Help him, Riti. If you want to do something for me, help the boy. He should live. I want him to live. I can't live with the burden of another guilt."

Dhruv rose to his feet. Dhrti held his hand and stopped him from leaving. "You were seventeen, Dhruv. Stop blaming yourself. You did not have a choice, but Mr. Randhawa did and yet he turned away. He let Dad die."

Dhruv closed his eyes. The past was best forgotten but it never left them alone.

"He let us suffer, Dhruv. Was that fair? We were never cruel to Dheer, but Mr. Randhwa...."

"Maine ek bache ke dard se muh mod liya aur unhone apne bacho ke dard se. Jaha se main dekh raha hoon na Driti, mujhme aur unme koi farq nahi hai. (I turned away from a child's pain and he turned a blind eye to his children's pain. From where I see it, I see no difference between me and him. )We are both guilty."

A soft gasp escaped Dhriti's lips. That was not true.

"Dhruv...."

"Let's not talk about them. Help Dheer. For now that is all that mattress." Dhruv gave her a gentle pat on the back and walked away. Dhriti lowered herself to the chair. She felt helpless. Dhreer's coming back had taken them back in time. Dhruv was slowly learning to let go of the past, but the past never left him alone.

The day he learned that Dheer was Dheeren, it would hurt him a thousand times more. Dhriti closed her eyes against the tears that rushed into her eyes. Her twin was not wrong. All he did was protect his family. The boy had always been a complication in their life. She wished she could help Dhruv realize that, but it was not in her hands. The only one who could absolve Dhruv was now struggling for his life. If anything happened to the boy Dhruv would forever blame himself. She could not let it happen. Dheer had to live, and she would make sure he did. Once he recovered she would talk to him and send him back. Their worlds could never meet. Regret and bitterness would forever taint their relationship. It was best if they stayed apart. 

Eighteen hours passed by but Dheer remained unconscious. The doctors and Dhriti assured Dhruv that Dheer was doing much better, but he could not rest until the boy opened his eyes. Dheer was shifted to a private cabin. They had even removed the oxygen. A quick call with Dheer's primary physician helped with the treatment. Dialysis helped, and so did the doctor's advice. Dheer was able to breathe on his own. His body was fighting to hold on. The kid was brave, there was no doubt about it.

Dhruv gently caressed the boy's hair. He wished his family could be there for him. He had tried calling Dheer's grandmother but her phone was unreachable. Aman assured him that he would get in touch with the family, but so far he had no success.

"Open your eyes, Dheer." Dhruv encouraged softly. "You are doing well. There is nothing to worry about. All you have to do is open your eyes."

The soft humming of the heart monitor was the only answer. Dhruv reached for Dheer's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Kya rishta hai humare beech, Dheer? Kyun mera dil kehta hai ke tu mera apna hai? Kyun tugjhe dard me dekhke mere ankhe bhar atey hai? Kyun ek ajnabi mughe itna apna lagne laga hai? (How are we related to each other, Dheer? Why does my heart keep telling me that you are my family? Why do I feel your pain? Why does a stranger have this effect on me?"

"Jis insaan ne ek bache ke takfeef se muh mod leya woh tugje kyun taqleef me nahi dekh paa raha? (The person who turned away from a child's pain, is not able to see you suffer. Why?)"

Dhruv shook his head. He was not looking for answers but he wished he knew why. Because he reminds you of him. His heart whispered. Dhruv knew it was the truth. Dheer reminded him of the boy he had betrayed. For a decade he only had his brother's memory to go by. He had kept his word and never looked for Dheer, but now his heart longed for the boy. He wanted to know how his little Dheer was going. He wanted to know if he was happy, but he knew he did not have the right. He was not there for the boy in time of his need. Now he had no right to look back.

Dheer finched in sleep. Dhruv noticed it and ran a gentle hand through his hair. The boy looked distressed. The nurse told him that he was suffering from nightmares. Dhruv did not know what plagued the boy but the near death experience could be traumatic to anyone.

"You are fine, Dheer." Dhruv gently whispered, giving him all the reassurances he could. "Nothing happened, bachcha. You are safe."

Dheer whimpered in sleep, but leaned into Dhruv's touch. Dhruv offered the boy all the comfort he could. He failed one child, he could not fail another. With that thought Dhruv drifted off to a restless sleep.

Tiny fists pounded on the door, a boy's desperate pleas and cries echoing through the hall, begging to be let in. Dheer felt suffocated as his fists pounded harder. He was scared and he needed to hold his Bhaiya.

"Please bade maa, mujhe dar lag raha hai. (Please, Badi Maa, I am scared)" Little Dheer pleaded. "Please let me out." A sob escaped his throat. His eyes were heavy with tears that he could not control.

"Bhaiya chaye. Mumma Chaye. Please Bhaiya se milne do." Dheer pleaded again. He knew his mother would never come back. His Bhaiya explained to him that once someone goes to heaven they cannot come back. The god loved his mother and father too much so he took them away. Dheer did not understand why he did that to him. He missed them terribly. He had cried for hours, holding on to his Bhaiya. Only in his Bhaiya's arms could he find peace. His gentle touch reminded him of his father. He felt safe with his Bhaiya. His Bhaiya promised to be there for him. He promised to look after him. Dheer was waiting for him to come back. Dhruv Singh Randhawa never went back on a promise. He knew that. His father always told him that Randhawa's kept their word. His Bhaiya would come back for him. He only needed to hold on for a few more minutes.

When the door opened, his heart leapt in joy. He rushed to the door hoping to see his Bhaiya, but it was her again. He took a step back, terrified. She was no longer the woman who told him bedside stories. She looked scary.

"Le jao ise yahan se (Take him away from here.)" The woman yelled at someone. "Iska saya bhi mere bachon pe nahi padna chaye. (I don't want him anywhere near my children.)" Her voice was harsh, devoid of any emotion.

Aravind Maheshwari stepped inside to reach for Dheer, but the boy pulled back. He did not wish to go anywhere. His Bhaiya promised to come back. He would be upset to find him gone.

Aravind lowered himself to his knees and gently held the boy. Dheer struggled in his uncle's embrace. His gentle eyes reminded him of his mother. He wanted his mother, he wanted to hold on to his Bhaiya and cry.

"Ghar chal beta. Yahan tera koi apna nahi hai. (Come home with me, Beta. You don't have anyone here.)"

Dheer shook his head. He had his Bhaiya. "Bhaiya chaye, Mamaji. (I want Bhaiya, Mamaji.)"

"Woh nahi ayega. (He will not come.)" The woman spoke harshly. "You need to go with your uncle. This is not your home. I do not want you here."

Dheer's eyes filled up. He did not understand why she changed so much in one day. "Bhaiya kaha hain? (Where is Bhaiya?)"

"Jahan bhi hai zinda hai. Tere saath rahega to uska bhi wahe haal hoga jo tere mom (He is safe for now, but he won't be for long if you stick around. He will suffer the same fate as your mom)...."

"Bas (Enough), Mrs. Randhawa." Arvind's voice boomed. "Bacha hai woh. Kasie batey kar rahe hai aap? (He is a kid. How can you talk to him that way?) Kaise maa hai aap? (What kind of a mother talks this way?)"

"Maa hoon is liye apne bachcho ke salamati chatey hoon. (A kind of mother who wants her children safe.) Take him away from here, Arnvind." Her grey eyes glinted with determination. He cannot come back here. Take him away before I throw him out myself."

"You don't have to take the trouble, Mrs. Randhawa. Dheer has a very loving family. Unlike you, we really care for him. He will not need your love or your pity." Aravind picked up Dheer. The boy struggled to get down, he did not wish to leave.

"Bhaiya aa jayenge, Mamaji. (Bhaiya will come back. Mamaji) Please, I want Bhaiya."

"Tere koi Bhaiya nahi hai, Dheer. Woh ladka tera kuch nahi lagta. Is parewaar ne tera koi rishta nahi hai. Bhool jaa inhe. (That boy is not your Bhaiya. He means nothing to you. This family means nothing to you. Forget them.)

Dheer shook his head, his heart too innocent to believe that the brother who loved him would betray him. He struggled harder to get down but Arvind did not set him down. He took him to the car and drove away. Dheer could not stop crying. His heart longed for his Bhaiya. He pleaded and begged but no one listened. No one took him back to his Bhaiya. Slowly exhaustion took over and he lost consciousness. His tears were his only solace. Even unconsciously, he only longed for the familiar warmth. Even distressed he only waited for his Bhaiya.

"Bhaiya" Dheer gasped in shock as he woke up. His body drenched in sweat. The nightmare left him breathless. The past and present mingled leaving him confused and restless. Tears refused to subside. He struggled to breathe and tried to get away but Dhruv grabbed his hand and forced him to sit back.

"Bhaiya?" Dheer's hand reached out to touch Dhruv. He was seven again. All he felt was relief. His Bhaiya had come back for him. He had kept his promise. Dheer buried his face into Dhruv's warmth, holding on to him. "Aap aagye, mughe pata tha aap aapge. (You came for me. I knew you would come.)"

He tightened his hold on Dhruv, not wanting to let go. The IV that was hooked into his hands pierced through his skin, making him hiss out in pain. Dhruv pulled back and gently massaged his hand. A little blood was seeping through.

Dhruv hit the nurse call button, his face clouding with worry. When he looked up their eyes met again. That is when Dheer realized that he was not looking at his Bhaiya but his boss. The familiar eyes were filled with kindness not the love he craved. Dheer's eyes filled up again. Why did life have to be so cruel? 

Please note:

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1- What is your first impression on

a- Mrs. Randhawa

b- Aravind Maheshwari (Do checkout his character sketch)

2- What do you think is the reason for Dhruv's guilt?

3- Is Dhriti right in her place?

Stay tuned for the teaser.