Aman zipped his bag a little tightly and kept it on the corner of the room.

Debu was adamant that he come as early as possible even though Aman was reluctant to leave his mother and come back to his life of solitude.

"There's a pre exhibit before the actual thing!" Debu had exclaimed "I don't want you to miss it at any cost! People are drooling over your latest one already, all thanks to Mrs Shah".

Aman had to snort at that; Debu had a way with words but he also was an opportunist who would waste no time when it came to good publicity. Sometimes Aman would wonder at his bloodthirsty nature but that's how his friend and publicist was supposed to be.

"I'm on my way" he replied without any preamble.

Devaki was mad at her son as he had expected "what's the hurry? Couldn't you have waited until Amit got back?"

Aman looked up from his luggage "I wish I could but there's an emergency which I can't miss".

"It's only one and half hour drive from here...why can't you come back after work?"she demanded.

"He hasn't exchanged two words with me since I came" he said, referring to his father "and he doesn't even talk to you guys because of me. I don't want things to change on my expense...let them be as they were".

"Your father didn't say anything..he wouldn't mind..."

That's what bothered him even though he pretended to be indifferent about it. His father had been distant than ever. It was as if his other son never existed even though he was around sharing the same house.

"I'll come back after sometime" he smiled, clasping her hand "I promise". She didn't bother to ask when it would be as she knew why he was hesitant to stay in the first place.

He took his car keys and pocketed it and his phone rang. Thinking it was Amit as he had never called after he had left, he went on to receive immediately. It was Akhil.

All he could hear was hushed breathing and a ragged voice "where are you?" Akhil asked. "Home..what's wrong?" Aman could sense the uneasiness in his voice.

"I got a call from our head office in Surat....it's about Amit" again Aman could hear sobs on the other end.

"What the hell's going on Akhil?"he snapped "be clear...where's Amit? Did he reach? I tried to call him but it's switched off".

"I...don't know exactly..there has been an accident on the highway..." Akhil's voice trailed away and Aman felt a sharp stab on his heart.

"And?"he could hardly breathe..please God! Let him be okay...nothing happens to him.

"I don't know man!" Akhil burst out crying and Aman found himself screaming "will you please tell me dammit?" Devaki stared at his fear stricken face "what happened?"she whispered. He nodded and silenced her.

"There was an accident...there was a lot of fog and the driver couldn't see properly...he rammed into a tree..." Akhil sniffed back tears "since Amit was sitting on the front seat and the car was at full speed, they were hit bad..."

"How's he?" Aman yelled, his hands shaking "how's my brother?"

There was an eerie silence except for his mother who looked panic stricken at his yelling. And then Akhil said in a low voice which confirmed his worst fear "he couldn't make it....they both..."

Aman collapsed on the floor, the phone crashing from his hands.

"What happened Aman?" Devaki was shaking him "what happened to Amit?"

Aman felt hot tears on his cheeks and looked at his mother..he couldn't tell her...he didn't want to.

"Where's baba?"he asked instead. He needed someone to hold her, someone else other than him.

"Reading newspaper on the balcony" she said in a worried tone "where's Amit? Is he okay? What happened to him?"

Aman walked past her and rushed to his father who was perched on the couch wearing his reading glasses and deeply engrossed in his paper.

"Baba?" Aman called softly, his voice barely a whisper. Shekhar looked up from the paper with a stern glare "what is it? What do you want?"

Aman held his breath for a while "Akhil called...there had been an accident on the highway".

His father dropped the paper and walked closer to him "what happened? Tell me!"he yelled. Aman cried shaking his head "he's...gone...he didn't..."

A slap fell on his face with a hard thud "no!" Shekhar yelled "this can't be! You're lying! Amit's fine, my baby's alright..."

He could hear his mother's heart wrenching scream from behind him and ran towards her and hugged her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably on his shoulders.

Everything was a blur after that...

◇◇◇◇◇

They reached the hospital and he stopped the car to a side. Akhil was already present with Amit's other colleagues who were notified earlier.

The moment Akhil saw Aman, he rushed to him and hugged him as he cried on his shoulders.

Aman simply held his best friend as he was too tired to even talk, let alone cry. All the tears had been exhausted and dried up.

"How are your parents?" Akhil asked as they made their way upstairs.

"Terrible" Aman replied with a heavy sigh "maa hasn't regained consciousness yet and baba's uncontrollable...everything's a chaos. Baba wanted to come but I refused... there are too many relatives and friends already..."

"I understand..." Akhil shook his head "I feel so...sick and terrible myself..I can't imagine what you guys are going through...how's your sister?"

Aman could still hear her sister's cries echoing through his head and nodded "she was unstoppable initially but Rishab's consoling her...."

"That's nice" Akhil said as they reached the casualty.

"The body is in the mortuary as we were waiting for the kin to sign the certificate" the doctor explained "and there are other formalities.."

Aman couldn't hear the rest of what was spoken. Within no time, his brother who was full of life was now called a body...his heart ached again and he tried hard to control the tears.

"This way please" the mortuary attendee led the way and Aman walked inside.

A haunting and eerie silence echoed down the entire hall and he felt fear grip him hard as the doctor stood beside it "are you ready?"

Aman nodded as the white veil which was covering his brother's face was pulled down.

It looked like Amit was sleeping peacefully..if only all this was a nightmare and someone pinched him and he woke up from the bad dream.

Only it wasn't....it was the only truth. Death was the only reality, that's all. He closed the veil and walked out, unable to stand any longer.

Ambulance was stationed to take the body home and Akhil and the others came in it while he sat back in the car.

His brother was gone from this world. That was all...nothing else...

◇◇◇◇◇

Sakshi stared at her engagement ring as she lay on the corner of the bed.

It had been two weeks since Amit's demise but it still felt like yesterday that she saw him, spoke to him, had time of her life with him...and had her first kiss. And now, there was nothing to look forward to. He was gone and far far away.

A small tear made it's way down her cheek. A week back after she had spoken to him on the phone, she had walked straight to bed because she was exhausted.

She hadn't realized how long she had slept as her mother was waking her up and Sakshi noticed she had been crying uncontrollably.

"Maa? What's wrong?"she woke up immediately and hugged her mother.
Soumya breathed hard "Amit's family just called....he met with an accident.."

"Oh my God! Is he okay? How bad is it?"Sakshi gasped, her heart beating rapidly.

Soumya shook her head "he didn't..." she cried harder "he couldn't make it to the hospital.."

As the words sank in, Sakshi could only stare at her mother with a blank face "no!"she whispered "that's not possible...I spoke to him a little while ago...he said he's coming back after few days and then..."

And everything else had been surreal blur. She couldn't remember how they had reached Amit's house...she couldn't remember holding his mother in her arms and how Devaki had cried frantically. She could simply stare at everyone and wonder whether it had been a mistake.

But when she saw him, that's when reality struck....he was never going to come back. Nothing would bring him back. She looked at his calm face and let out a hurt cry.

She never broke down in front of anyone...she never cried hard. That's how she'd always been. Not showing her emotions openly.

She would cry for hours together every single night in the corner of her bed, pining for him. Knowing nothing would change....not even her grief.

Outside the living room, Ranjit closed the file he was working on and walked towards his wife who was in the kitchen.

"It's been so many days" he began slowly "she hasn't spoken a word to us". Soumya nodded turning to him "she's lost someone important in her life... give her some time".

Ever since Amit's death, Ranjit had softened towards his family as there were less arguments and taunts.

"I'm worried about her" he continued warily "she hardly speaks to us...I understand he's her fiancee but she's known him for six months. She shouldn't ignore her parents who've been with her forever".

Soumya sensed an argument coming on "she's not ignoring us...it's her way of grieving for him" she sighed "I can't even imagine what his family must be going through..having lost a son at a young age..."

He stopped cribbing and shook his head "I visited them on my way back.. Shekhar is still in shock. He didn't even talk to me properly. It's as if a part of him is dead".

"What about Devaki?" Soumya asked, concerned. "She's managing better than him even though she's in pain" he explained "for once I'm glad their other son is with them. Or else it would have difficult".

"True" Soumya admitted sadly "Aman was handling things well...I noticed during funeral...he was the only one who was calm and composed...they really needed him".

Sakshi walked in and her mother stopped talking to look at her "you need something beta?"

"No" Sakshi filled her flask with hot water as they both watched in silence.
After closing the lid tight, she sauntered out when her father called "Sakshi? Come here". She turned and he motioned her to occupy the chair next to him.

"You haven't started going to the hospital yet" he asked politely "why dont you start working again? That way, your mind will be occupied".

"I can't papa" she said, speaking for the first time "I'm not well".

"You need to stop stressing about things that can't be changed beta" he patted her shoulder in affection "what's written in our destiny can't be changed...it's a part of our life and a reminder that life has to move on, no matter what".

She blinked back tears; the last thing she wanted was a lecture about life.
"Can I go papa? I'm feeling sleepy".

Soumya shed a small tear at her daughter's plight "go to your room..call me if you need anything".

After she was gone, Ranjit gaped at his wife who raised an angry eyebrow "what did I do?"he shrugged.

"I know you're insensitive about certain things but that's not the way to deal with your daughter" Soumya chided.

Ranjit shot up from the chair "you're right" he snapped "I'm done being patient...I can't see her in pain anymore..I know what to do" he nodded as if an epiphany had struck him "I've already started working on a matrimonial alliance in ShaadiByaah.com. Let's see if we find a good match for her".

Soumya glared at him in disbelief "are you insane? She's lost her fiancee.. they were going to get married in two months!"

"Yes I know he's dead!"he bellowed "but we aren't! So stop behaving like life's over and get on with it! I'm not sitting and crying over my daughter. I'll see to it she finds a happy home and settles peacefully".

"I want that too!" Soumya snapped "but let's give some time for her to hold her life together..."

"Well...I'm done grumbling" he snarled "I won't get a minute's peace until I see her happy" with that he walked out.

Oh God!she prayed mentally...give this man a fistful of patience...he really needs it.

◇◇◇◇◇

"Aman?" Devaki knocked on the dark room which was devoid of lights.

Aman was on the reclining chair, reading a book and the moment he heard her voice, he closed the book and got up "what is it?"

"Can you help me keep the dishes?"she asked. He gave a thin smile "of course".

He washed the dishes and kept them on the table and did the same with the glasses while she kept the casserole ready.

"Where's Amrita?"he asked, pouring the soup on the bowl for his sister. She hardly ate anything but he wouldn't leave her without feeding a little. Rishab was gone for a business trip.

"She's talking to Rishab" Devaki replied "call your father for dinner".

Aman stared at her blankly "I can't... he didn't speak to me ever since..." he couldn't even begin to say his brother's name in front of his mother.

"Then you speak to him" she urged. He shook his head in denial "there's no point...sometimes he gives me this look that says that I should have died instead of.. "

"Will you stop feeling that way?"she scolded "he loves you...I know that. Go talk to him".

Aman didn't want to argue with her and nodded, walking towards his father's room.

Shekhar was on the laptop working when Aman cleared his throat with a slow cough, just enough to make his presence known.

His father turned briefly "what is it?"he asked. Aman went on to say something but stopped "dinner's ready" he said.

"Tell her to bring it here...I'm tired" Shekhar replied without looking back. Aman took that as a dismissal but waited for another minute. When there was no further discussion, he turned to go.

"Aman?"his father called softly and he brightened at that...it had been long since he had addressed his son.

"Yes baba?"he asked in an optimistic tone, wishing his father would finally say something nice.

"You're not going anytime soon right?" Shekhar stared at him with a serious look.

Aman gave a hasty nod "I didn't plan on..."

"Stay for few more days" his father said instantly "for your mother's sake...she's getting better day by day and I know it's because of you...even Amrita..."

Aman could almost see his brother's smirking face which said 'see? I told you so...everything will be alright'.

He felt a lump in his throat, wishing for the umpteenth time that his brother would come back and surprise them. Only that was a wishful thinking.

He simply nodded "I'll...stay". Shekhar gave a small smile and went back to his laptop.

"Baba?" Aman called again "come eat with us...". Shekhar stared at him for a brief moment "in a moment".

As they ate dinner together, Aman felt a lot lighter since two weeks. There was no cheerful banter but there was warmth on the dinner table. For the first time, he ate to his full..

Unaware of the greater storm that was coming their way....

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