Author's note: Among all my characters, I relate to Priyasha the most. From her trauma to her inner world, and the way she looks at life... everything is mine. I relate to Shreya for her relationship with her family and relatives except that of with her in-laws(I'm not married yet). Ritu is different. She's courageous, pampered, rebellious and has PTSD. I do not relate to her about the pampering part. But everything else is mine. 

~~~

It was difficult to face Gyan after so many days. They haven't really talked in a few months after the incident except for sharing some texts which were mostly song-links from Spotify. Because Gyan had already left for completing his course of business studies when she woke up from coma. And moreover, he hadn't been home since then. She knew not what was stopping him to come to home, but he seemed to be avoiding returning home.

Naturally, Ritu felt nervous to come face to face with her twin. Not only because they were talking after so many months, but also because she was afraid of unearthing some secrets, she suspected her family had kept away from her. No one told her anything about Gyan after she came to senses. Perhaps, they were concerned for her frail health at that time, and rightfully so. She wasn't in her best form since it happened. She needed to heal first. Her family was well aware of it. Sometimes, she really felt grateful for having her family. Maybe Krishna was partial to her for her past deeds. So, he blessed her with such a nice family. All of them had their own issues to deal with and still they got each other's back. It made them family.

However, Gyan was different from the rest of her family.

As twins, they shared an uncanny connection since childhood. Although Gyan was the one who teased her the most, he was also the one who understood her the best. Their bond was complex, filled with unspoken understanding and moments of teasing that masked deep affection. Ritu found it difficult to articulate, but in Gyan's presence, she felt a sense of irreplaceable and lifelong attachment that no one else in this world could provide.

Since they were young, they had their own nonverbal communication and understanding that conveyed volumes to each other. Gyan knew when Ritu needed encouragement, even amidst his teasing, and Ritu knew when Gyan needed space, even if he didn't say it. Sharing their in-utero life is the beginning of their indelible bond for eternity.

In fact, whenever she deliberated about her and Gyan's bittersweet twinship, she realized how special they both were to each other. Gyan was like the other half of her soul and heart despite having two completely different personalities. He was with her inside their mother's womb before they were even born. How amazing was that! They might've hugged each other, or held hands or even shared their deepest emotions with each other since then. She was truly grateful to their parents for giving them the best gift of each other.

When Navneet called Gyan using her id, Gyan didn't receive it. She stared at Navneet with a dejected knowing look. She already suspected this could happen. Why did she let Navneet use her id? What was she even thinking? This was quite obvious. Gyan was avoiding the family, her included.

A crease appeared on Navneet's forehead. He clearly did not expect that. His eyes shot up from the screen and met hers as he expressed his confusion verbally, "Well...I wasn't expecting that. Maybe, he's attending some lectures."

Ritu shrugged. There was still some hope at the corner of her heart. She still wanted to believe what Navi said was the truth.

After a moment, Navneet suggested, "Let's invite him from my id. Yeah, that'll do."

Ritu stared at him expectantly without saying anything. The glass on her hand seemed to be slipping away from her grasp. She cautiously put that down on the tray and wiped her clammy palms on her jeans.

Miraculously or rather perceptibly, Gyan joined Navneet's invitation almost immediately.

As the laptop was on speaker, a recognizable voice flew in from the other side of the world through the clever little device sitting between her and Navneet.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Are you busy?" Navneet asked without being suspicious.

"Mm, not really. I received the email yesterday morning. When are we starting then?"

"Next week we have a session. But before that we need to sort out few technicalities. But, you can relax now. I'll keep you updated."

"Thanks man. And thank you once again for including me. I never thought I could ever receive this breakthrough."

"Shut up Gyan. Without you I couldn't manage to even come this far. My biggest supporter has always been you, partner."

Ritu smiled watching the guys praising each other. She could see Navneet's expression but she longed to see Gyan. This brother of her was always been vocal about his demands. He had always been expressive despite being reprimanded by their parents, and she liked him like that.

"Where are you?" Gyan asked after a brief pause.

"At Ishani," blurted Navneet without wasting any time. "And right now, Ritu is eagerly waiting to talk to you."

"What?" exclaimed Gyan, baffled. "Wait- hey, Navi-"

But Navneet had already turned the laptop toward her and she glanced at the screen, both her hands and heartbeats stilled within a fraction of second. There was a grotesque angry looking scar on Gyan's left eyebrow. The flesh around it had discolored and puckered, giving his face a permanently twisted expression of an irreversible trauma. The scar ran deep, almost splitting his eyebrow in two, and the once clean line of hair was now a disjointed patchwork of uneven strands. Quite similar to Abhimanyu but not exactly alike.

Her gaze dropped on his lips, at the left corner of which there was another poorly healed scar leaving a slouched jagged line that tugged at his mouth, distorting his beautiful lips into a perpetual scowl. The scar tissue was a stark contrast against the natural color of his lips, making the injury all the more noticeable.

These injuries were the brutal signs of the savage blows he had endured months ago.

Evidently, that nightmarish incident of that day had scarred more than one lives permanently.

An audible gasped left her lips in shock. She wasn't prepared for the sight of her brother in such a state.

"Gyan!" She shrieked. "What is this?" Ritu leaned forward, closer to the screen, in a vain attempt to examine her brother's wounds more thoroughly, her eyes wide with a mixture of horror and concern. She had been kept in the dark about his condition during her own recovery, and the reality of seeing him like this was a cruel blow.

"Hey." Gyan seemed to be struggling with a loss of words. He turned his head to the left side in order to avoid her scrutinizing gaze. "Dumbo. Stop already. Don't overreact."

"Overreact? What the hell Gyan? Look at me. I swear to God, if you don't, I'll..." she paused to search for the right words. Her voice thick with panic and affliction. "I'll come right there and won't care if anyone tells me off! Gyan!" She cried out. Her vision already turning hazy.

Gyan closed his eyes for a moment before he gave in and turned his face forward and offered her a faint, lopsided smile.

As soon as he did, large tears of anguish streamed down her face freely.

"This is exactly why we avoided telling you. Ritu, stop crying already." Gyan's poorly masked helpless pleading made it more difficult for Ritu to stop crying until Navneet came around and pulled her into his chest.

"Why did you put her on facetime?" Gyan rebuked Navneet.

"She deserves to know." Navneet patiently responded while stroking on Ritu's head.

"It means everyone knew except me? Navi knew it too. Gyan...why?" Ritu choked through her sobs.

"Ritu, I said stop it!" he chided softly, his voice carrying the weight of all he had endured, and at the moment, it was multiplied by the helplessness he felt by the distance between them. "Everyone wanted to see you awake and doing okay. No one had the heart to see you go through another round of pain. You don't deserve that."

"Neither do you!" cried Ritu angrily, her heart breaking inside seeing him like that. "I'm so sorry, Gyan," she whispered, "I wish I wasn't out cold while you went through all this by yourself."

Gyan sighed, then shook his head gently. "You had your own battles to fight," he said, his gaze steady despite the pain etched into his features. "Now that you're up, we'll get through this together, won't we?"

"As if you'd let me come to you!" complained Ritu.

"Of course not! You've got your final year project coming up. Isn't it?"

"Idiot!" Ritu muttered and wiped her tears which didn't seem to listen to her will and kept falling freely. Navneet got up and brought her a glass of water which she rejected and threw her stupid brother another question. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Gyan wasn't expecting that sudden attack. He faltered while answering that. "Er, why? I'm fine. Dumbo. You can see me."

"Yes that I can, but I don't trust you at all. Keep the phone down and go back. I want to see you standing," blurted Ritu in a single breathe.

"What kind of childish demand it is Ritu? I'm about to enter the auditorium. You can't demand such-"

Ritu didn't let him finish. "Gyan, I'll come there as soon as you disconnect this call, I swear!"

Gyan tsked audibly, then looked here and there for a few times. He seemed to be deciding on how to flee the situation. But Ritu wasn't going to have any such antics of him this time. She knew what her brother was capable of, so she warned quickly, "Don't avoid me. It won't work this time. You've done so for pretty long already."

Gyan sighed, defeated then called out one of his peers, "Hey Zach, can you hold this phone for me for a moment. My sister is pure devil y'know?"

"Ya man. No problem."

Ritu heard the voice but couldn't see the person. As the camera zoomed out from Gyan, Ritu's eyes gradually widened in shock. Gyan was standing with an elbow crutch that held his left arm while his left leg was propped awkwardly, encased in a sturdy brace that hinted at the severity of the break. Along with the scars on his face, his broken leg was also a stark reminder of the ordeal he had endured. They had etched into his features like painful memories refusing to fade.

After only five seconds or so, Gyan signaled his friend and the phone was back in his hand. "Thanks man," Gyan said gratefully before turning his attention back to the screen. "Happy?"

Ritu couldn't say anything and broke down completely. She was overwhelmed and speechless, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She couldn't utter a word, her remorse too raw and intense.

"Oh! Ritu! Can you please stop already? I've got an exam today. Don't stress me out."

But Ritu couldn't stop herself. She wept inconsolably, her heart shattering seeing him suffering like that. Guilt gnawing at her for not knowing sooner, for not being by her twin's side during his ordeal. She felt the weight of their twin bond, the connection that should have alerted her to his pain long before this moment.

Seeing Ritu in such distress, Gyan felt a mix of frustration and agony. Unable to bear seeing his sister like this and feeling helpless to comfort her, he disconnected the call abruptly. Ritu knew he was giving her time to process everything, but still it hurt. She clung to Navneet for support. Her tears, caused from the stranded agony she felt at the moment, streamed down her face non-stop.

She couldn't even comprehend how difficult that night must have been for others. Compared to theirs, her misery seemed like an easy escape. The months she spent in a coma were a blur, a period of unawareness and dreamless darkness. But for Gyan, each day had been a living nightmare. He had faced the violence, the pain, and the long, agonizing recovery while she remained blissfully unaware.

The scars on his face and the brace on his leg were a constant reminder that'll never fade away. She had been spared the immediate horror, but Gyan had lived it, breathed it, and now bore its marks. She understood that Gyan wanted to make her believe that he was doing okay. But Ritu knew, he truly was not.

Grief washed over her as she felt the excruciating pang in her chest. What was even their fault? That they were Abhiraj and Priyasha Roy's children? This fact alone ravaged their lives permanently. Why do children need to carry the traumas of their parents? Why do they bring children in the world where they can't even protect them? Parents are supposed to be wise, who can teach their offsprings how to life. But why is it that children suffer mostly due to their parents' faults?

"I was here asleep, unaware of everything happening around, while he... he fought alone," she thought aloud. "I was spared, while he suffered." The pain of her brother's suffering, combined with her own sense of vulnerability, made her chest squeeze painfully. All she wanted was to reach out and hold him. But for now, all she could do was cry.