Krishav paced restlessly inside the dimly lit office room, the flickering fluorescent lights casting a disorienting glow on his face. He ran his hand through his tousled hair; the strands sticking to his sweaty palms, a testament to the inner turmoil he was experiencing.

The door swung open abruptly, causing Krishav to jump in surprise. Before he could utter a word of reprimand to the intruder, the familiar face of his best friend, Viraj, appeared. He waltzed inside Krishav office unaffected like an hour ago they didn't have a very serious conversation which could bring many changes in their lives.

Viraj held up his hand, a gesture of peace, as he stepped further into the room. "Before you say anything, just listen to me with a rational mind," Viraj implored, his voice steady and unwavering amidst Krishav's mounting frustration.

Reluctantly, Krishav allowed himself to sink into the plush couch nearby, the soft fabric enveloping him in a sense of comfort and familiarity. He absentmindedly tugged at his crumpled tie, the silk slipping through his fingers like a reminder of his frayed composure.

" What's the matter, Viraj? This doesn't feel like a simple conversation, ", Krishav spoke, his voice laden with irritation and weariness.

Krishav's gaze shifted from Viraj's face to the disheveled state of his own appearance-a telltale sign of the emotional storm raging within him. His once pristine shirt now creased and his blazer carelessly discarded on a nearby chair, mirroring the chaos of his thoughts.

Viraj raised his eyebrows in amusement at Krishav's behaviour of acting nonchalant from escaping the upcoming conversation. But he was also Krishav's best friend. He had already given him an hour to calm himself, and now it's time to finally have the conversation. Willingly or not, it doesn't matter.

Viraj took a deep breath, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Krishav's mounting anger. "Krishav, it wasn't right for you to storm out like that," Viraj began, his voice filled with a sense of understanding. The distant hum of the air conditioning mingled with Viraj's words, creating a melodic backdrop to their conversation.

"What do you mean, Viraj? What wasn't right?" Krishav retorted, his voice growing louder with each word. He stood abruptly, the wooden floor creaking beneath his weight, his frustration threatening to consume him.

Locking eyes with Viraj, he continued, "Are you suggesting that we calmly discuss the fact that we need to tell Kunj he's adopted? That we discovered him abandoned on our doorstep?" Krishav's words came out in a ragged breath, his emotions bubbling to the surface.

"No, Krishav, that's not what we're saying," Viraj countered, his voice remaining steady amidst the raging tempest. He paused, his gaze fixed on Krishav's troubled face.

"But don't you see? Eventually, Kunj will uncover the truth, whether we like it or not. It's inevitable. That's exactly why we need to tell him! Kunj deserves the truth from us-his family. We just want Kunj to find the truth from us rather than finding it from some other sources."

"He's always been my brother. Blood or no blood... that doesn't change anything!" Krishav's eyes blazed with anger as he declared.

Behind the anger in his eyes, one could discern a mix of fear, worry, and concern, like a flickering flame in a tempestuous storm.

Krishav turned abruptly, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance. "And what does it matter?" he muttered, his voice tinged with resignation. "We're here for him. He's not a kid anymore! He can handle this."

The sight of Viraj abruptly standing up from the couch, his face contorted with anger, made the atmosphere even more intense. The sound of their voices filled the air, their words clashing with each other like thunder in a stormy sky.

Viraj forcibly turned Krishav to face him, his grip firm on his shoulder. The scent of their anxiety mixed with the smell of the room, creating a suffocating aroma. Krishav refused to meet Viraj's gaze, his eyes fixed on the ground, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Handle this, are you for real, Krishav?" Viraj's voice rang out, thick with frustration. " It's his identity. We are talking about not any simple mistake that he will just brush it off like any insignificant mistake".

The sound reverberated in Krishav's ears, echoing through his mind. He could feel the weight of Viraj's words, heavy like a leaden burden on his shoulders.

Krishav finally spoke, "Identity? You think Kunj cares about that? He loves us. He looks up to us! He loves mom with all his heart. He sees you as his brother. Adoption doesn't change that bond." his voice was calm yet filled with determination.

The feeling of resolve emanated from him, like a steady flame in the midst of chaos.

Viraj, exasperated, took a deep breath. "It doesn't change the bond, but it changes how he sees himself!"

His exhale releasing the tension that had built up within him. He placed a comforting hand on Krishav's shoulder, the touch grounding them both.

"Look, I know it's complicated. But if we're not honest, if we let him find out through some random -whatever! -it'll tear him apart. You know it will and anyone could use this piece of information against us to hurt Kunj in the worst way possible," Viren spoke steadily.

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the soft inhales and exhales of the two friends. Krishav's mind raced, his thoughts intertwining like a complex web. Viraj knew he had to stay composed, to guide Krishav through this storm of emotions.

"So we just throw this bombshell at him?,"Hey Kunj, surprise! You're adopted!" What do you think that's going to do to him? " Krishav's voice rose, his gaze finally meeting Viraj's.

The intensity in his eyes mirrored the fire in his words. Viraj let out a sigh, the sound filled with a mix of frustration and concern. He longed to shake Krishav out of his stubbornness, to make him see reason. But he knew violence wouldn't solve anything.

In that moment, Viraj understood the depth of Krishav's fear. He saw the vulnerability hidden beneath his friend's facade of anger. And with a calm mind, he resolved to help Krishav navigate this delicate situation.

The intensity in his eyes mirrored the fire in his words. Viraj let out a sigh, the sound filled with a mix of frustration and concern.

He longed to shake Krishav out of his stubbornness, to make him see reason. But he knew violence wouldn't solve anything.

In that moment, Viraj understood the depth of Krishav's fear. He saw the vulnerability hidden beneath his friend's facade of anger. And with a calm mind, he resolved to find a way to help Krishav navigate this delicate situation.

"It's not just a bombshell, it's the truth," Viraj whispered softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Krishav turned away from Viraj. "Do whatever you all want. I don't want to be part of this. I refuse to just throw it out there without thinking, Viraj. He's very fragile"

Krishav spoke softly as he turned away from viraj, feeling the weight of the truth settle heavily on his shoulders. The room was filled with tension, the air thick with anticipation.

Viraj stood in front of Krishav, his presence demanding attention. Krishav reluctantly met his gaze, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. The room seemed to grow smaller, suffocating him with its intensity.

"Think, Krishav," Viraj urged, his words hanging in the air. "If he finds out the truth from someone else, won't he feel like an outsider? Disconnected?"

Vedika, who had been silently listening, finally stepped forward and gently took Krishav's hand. Her touch was reassuring, grounding him at the moment.

"We're not trying to hurt him," she said, her voice filled with empathy. "We're trying to save him from potential heartbreak. We want to be the ones to tell him, not let someone exploit his pain."

Krishav's voice quivered as he spoke, his words barely audible. "Exploiting him... What if it ends up tearing us apart, too?"

Prerna's voice cut through the silence, firm and sincere. ""Krishav, listen. Whatever the outcome, you have to trust the love you've built isn't just going to vanish. Blood doesn't define family. Your bond... that's what matters. We have to trust the love we've built. We'll face it together."

Krishav's mind raced with worry, "But what if he can't see it that way? What if he feels betrayed?" Prerna's voice amid the chaos brought a sense of calm to him.

She embraced him, her warmth enveloping him like a protective shield. "Then we need to be there for him, to help him process it. Just like we've always done. Imagine his relief-knowing he could come to us with anything, knowing we trusted him with the truth," she assured him. "Honesty will protect him in the long run."

Krishav hesitated, his doubts lingering. "Alright... but we'll do it together. No half measures. We'll wait until his birthday."

Prerna nodded, her gaze shifting towards the door where their family stood united. "For him," she whispered, a determined glint in her eyes.

Krishav stood in his mother's embrace, finding solace in her presence. Slowly, he pulled away, the weight of the moment still heavy in the air. The room was filled with a solemn stillness, each breath holding a mix of apprehension and hope.

And then Viraj's voice broke the silence, his tone playful yet hungry. "If we're done here, can we please eat something? My stomach feels like rats are fighting inside."

Krishav shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. In the midst of turmoil, he couldn't help but appreciate the lightness that Viraj brought to his life.

The elders and Krishav, with an amused shake of their heads, continued on towards their lunch.

Krishav's gaze fixated on the radiant sunlight pouring in through the window, casting a warm glow in the room. The sound of laughter and clinking cutlery filled the air as the aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the room.

Krishav took a deep breath, allowing the scent to fill his senses, and let his worries drift away, entrusting his fate to the hopeful embrace of the day.

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