Bhaiya = Elder brother
Beta = Son
Beti = Daughter

-*-*-

The girl was lost in thought, the piece of paper still clutched in her hand, and a gentle smile playing on her lips. The dusty morning air carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, while the soft lapping of the water against the bank created a soothing melody. But her mind was a thousand miles away, replaying the stranger's words, when a familiar voice pierced her ears—

"Ira!"

Nakul, her 24-year-old brother, stood a short distance away, panting heavily as though he had been running for ages. He bent forward, his body forming a bow from sheer exertion. Drenched in sweat, he took a moment to catch his breath before approaching her, his footsteps firm on the grassy bank.

"What is this, huh?! Do you have any idea how worried we were?!" His face contorted, eyes narrowing as he continued lashing out, "And here you are, wandering in town alone like it’s some garden?!"

Ira’s gaze dropped to the ground, her fists clenched, lips pressing tightly.

Nakul inhaled deeply and unclenched his fists. "Listen, Ira, I understand you’re going through a tough time, but that doesn’t mean you storm out of the house like this."

Her fingers tightened around the paper. Lifting her gaze, she looked directly into his eyes. "Get out of my way. I’m not in the mood to fight," she said in a flat, emotionless tone.

Nakul’s eyes narrowed, and a scoff escaped his throat. "Huh? Like you’ll win."

Ira clenched her jaw, throwing him a sharp glare. "Shut up."

Scowling, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Okay. Let’s not fight. Come home with me. Maa and Papa are worried for you."

Jerking his hand away, Ira snapped, "No! I won’t!"

"Really? Then what will you do here? Catch fish and sell them for a living?" Nakul quipped, widening his eyes.

Ira turned her head to the side, her expression contorting.

Sighing, Nakul reached out again, stroking her hair slowly. "Ira, c’mon, let’s go. I promise, no one will say anything to you."

Ira’s eyes wandered back to the river.

The water shimmered with the sun’s warm rays, sparkling like scattered diamonds. A gentle breeze played with her hair, carrying the fragrance of the morning air. The clear blue sky above, so soothing, seemed to mock the turbulence inside her. Nature’s calm was far more satisfying than the chaos of home.

Nakul’s lips twisted. Abruptly, he yanked her hair, making her yelp.

"What the hell?!" Ira jerked her face, rubbing the crown of her head. "Are you planning to make me bald?!"

"Why are you ignoring me?!" Nakul retorted, his face twisting.

"Isn’t it simple?—" she shook her head once— "Cause I want to ignore you, duh."

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

The silence that followed was heavy, neither willing to speak.

Ira finally exhaled, raising her hands near her chest. "Listen, you go. I’ll come…"

"Shut up and come with me!" Nakul snapped, fingers curling firmly around her wrist, ready to drag her along.

Ira yanked her hand away. "No!" The word burst out like a storm long held back. "They don’t want a daughter! They want a robot! They want results but won’t let you study. A garden left unwatered, yet expected to bloom—wow." Her mocking voice trembled beneath the sternness she fought to keep there, eyes brimming.

"Ira…" Nakul’s voice softened.

She sniffled, flaring a hand. "No. Sometimes I really wonder, why did they even get married? And if they did, then why have us when they can’t handle parenting?!"

The held tears rolled down her cheek. "Even when I was dying, they didn’t bother to call me once."

Nakul’s shoulders slumped, lips pressing into a thin line. He stepped forward and gently brushed her tears away with his thumbs. "They care about you, Ira. They love us equally. It’s just that they were busy—"

"—Busy? Busy with what?!" Her fists tightened around her dress. "Fighting? Arguing?"

Nakul stepped back, raising his hands in surrender. "Okay, you win, I lose. It’s their nature. We can’t change it. But you’ve never expressed yourself to them either. Isn’t that partly your fault too?" His eyebrows danced, lips twisting with each spoken word. "You’ve always been so aloof, even with me and our parents. How can you expect them to express emotions when you never show yours?"

"That’s not the point, Bhaiya!" Ira said angrily. "They’re my parents! They’re supposed to understand me!"

Nakul’s chest heaved as he turned his face aside, both hands resting on his waist. Closing his eyes for a heartbeat, he inhaled deeply and flashed an open palm before her. "I’m not saying it’s all your fault, Ira. But if you had opened up to them, they might have responded differently."

Ira’s face crumbled. "It’s hard for me, okay! Not everyone is like you!" Her voice cracked. "Not everybody can handle things the way you do!"

Nakul’s heart sank at the sight of his sister breaking down. Smiling faintly, he pulled her into a warm embrace. "Why are you crying? It’s okay. I’ll be there for you next time."

Ira slipped out of his arms, feeling drained. "You don’t understand…" Her voice trailed off as if words weighed as much as a mountain. "It’s just so hard for me to talk about this stuff."

A yawn escaped his lips, hinting at the struggle of the last sleepless night. "It’s okay." His words came muffled. "You don’t have to bottle everything up, you know? I’m—" another yawn escaped, "—I’m here to listen. Take your time."

Ira rested her head on his shoulder, circling her arms around his waist. Her head bobbed against his chest, tears quietly soaking into the fabric of his T-shirt.

They stood like that, letting the weight of their emotions spill out into the morning air.

When Nakul felt her breathing even out, his lips curved slightly, words tumbling out in his usual careless way. "Okay, now let’s go home. And cook something delicious for me for tolerating your melodrama."

Ira slapped his arm sharply. "I’m not your servant, okay!"

Nakul slapped her back, eyebrows wriggling. "Then be one. I’ll give you a salary. Five rupees a month."

Their bickering turned playful, no longer heavy. Words became affectionate jabs rather than sharp arrows. They walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way. The sun’s warm rays danced across their faces, and the breeze whispered softly through the trees.

💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫

In the dimly lit doorway of their two-tiered house, a middle-aged couple stood as though carved from stone. The morning sun cast restless shadows across peeling walls and a floor that hadn’t been swept since yesterday’s dust storm.

The woman, in her early forties, rubbed her hands together in restless circles—the dry sound of skin against skin sharp in the quiet. Her gaze clung to the empty street beyond the gate, eyes wide and unblinking as though they could summon someone out of the shadows.

The man, in his early fifties, paced back and forth beside her, his face etched with worry and frustration. His red-rimmed eyes darted toward her as he muttered under his breath, "You cannot even handle a child." His teeth clenched further. "How many times—how many times have I told you not to lash out at them? Is it that hard to understand?!"

The woman’s glare turned a razor’s edge, slicing through the air without even trying. "Do not dare pretend to be the perfect father!" she emphasized, her jabbed finger trembling with each word. "If you had shown even a fraction of care, we would not be facing this nightmare."

The man’s face fell, and he looked away, resuming his anxious pacing.

The woman’s gaze lingered on him, her teeth clenched.

As both pairs of eyes returned to the street, the silhouette of a boy and a girl emerged from the fading light.

The woman’s heart skipped a beat as the figures drew nearer. She rushed forward with wide eyes, her saree rustling with each hurried step.

"Ira! Where have you been? You are becoming more reckless day by day!" Her voice was firm, but the tremble beneath betrayed her sternness.

The man followed close behind, his eyes relaxing now. He placed a gentle hand on his daughter’s head. "Who does this, beta? What if something had happened to you? Did you not think about us, about how we would be worried sick?" His voice was soft, yet laced with deep-seated fear.

Ira’s gaze fell to the ground, her eyes welling up again, though she tried hard to hold them back. "Sorry."

Her mother’s expression hardened, her voice taking a firm note. "Just a sorry will not work, girl. You need to tell us—what is going on in your mind?"

Ira’s eyes flickered between her parents and brother, silently pleading for understanding.

Nakul’s gaze lingered on her before he turned to face his parents. "Maa, can we talk later? We should give her a break."

Her mother’s expression softened to neutral, though her tone remained stoic. "Okay. We can talk later. But promise me, you will share what is bothering you. We cannot help if we do not know what is going on."

Ira nodded, her head still hung low.

Her father placed his hand on her head again. "Take all the time you need, beta. We are here for you whenever you are ready."

With a small nod, Ira turned toward her room, seeking solace in the quiet sanctuary.

A/N: Hey, guys!

Hope you're all doing amazing today! Just checking in on your well-being. Remember, happiness is a choice! In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming, 'beast' the blues and become a 'paws...itive' thinker. Yoo!!!