Family

Vivan’s POV

I sat alone in my room, the echoes of the evening's chaos swirling in my mind. Raghav’s words, Dadi’s revelation—they tore through me like shards of glass. I leaned back against the chair, closing my eyes, and before I could stop myself, memories of my childhood surfaced.

I was ten years old. It had been a normal day, or so I thought. I remember running back home from school, excited to tell Maa about the star I had earned for my project. But as I approached the house, I heard raised voices coming from the living room.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I tiptoed closer, hiding behind the half-open door.

“You can’t keep hiding it forever!” Dadi’s voice boomed, sharp and accusatory.

“It doesn’t matter,” Maa snapped back. “He’s our son now. That’s all that counts!”

“You think the truth won’t come out?” Dadi spat. “He has the right to know he’s not a Raichand by blood!”

I froze, my tiny hands clutching the edge of the doorframe. Not a Raichand? What did that even mean?

“Stop it, Maa,” Papa said, his tone weary but firm. “We’ve raised him as our own. He doesn’t need to know where he came from. He’s ours.”

I didn’t understand it fully back then, but those words lodged themselves in my heart like a splinter. I backed away quietly, not daring to make a sound, and ran to my room. I stared at the star sticker I had been so proud of, my hands trembling.

I had run to my room that day, my little legs barely carrying me fast enough. My heart pounded, my thoughts a mess as I tried to make sense of the words I’d overheard. But before I could lock myself in, the door creaked open, and Maa and Papa stood there.

“Vivan,” Maa said softly, her face pale. “What happened, beta?”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I blurted out the question that had been hammering in my head. “Maa… am I not your son?

The color drained from Maa’s face, and Papa froze mid-step. They exchanged a look, one I couldn’t quite understand at the time, but now I knew it was a silent plea for what to say.

Maa knelt down in front of me, her hands trembling as she cupped my face. “Vivan, listen to me. You are ours. You are our first baby.”

I sniffled, confused and hurt. “But Dadi said... I’m not your real son.”

Papa walked over and placed a firm hand on my shoulder. His eyes were moist, his usual composed demeanor cracking. “Beta, real doesn’t mean blood. Real means love, and there’s no one we love more than you. You are our son, no matter what anyone says.”

Maa nodded, tears streaming down her face. “The day we brought you home was the happiest day of our lives, Vivan. You made us parents. You gave us a family.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice broke. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

They both looked pained, and Maa pulled me into a tight hug. “Because you are our truth, Vivan. We didn’t want you to ever feel like you didn’t belong, because you do. You belong with us.”

Papa knelt beside her and stroked my hair. “You are, and always will be, our son, Vivan. That’s the only truth that matters.”

I hugged them back, my little arms clinging to them desperately. Even at that young age, their words brought me a strange kind of comfort, though the confusion and pain still lingered.

Now, years later, I sat alone in my room, replaying that memory over and over. Their words back then had anchored me, but tonight, it felt like the truth had shattered all over again.

“Not a Raichand,” I murmured bitterly, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

Vivan's POV

Tears started streaming down my face as the weight of everything crashed over me. My hands trembled, and my breath hitched. The memories, the betrayal, and the emptiness—all of it was too much. My vision blurred, but amidst the haze, I heard soft footsteps approaching.

I looked up and saw Advika standing there, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at me. Something about her presence, her unwavering gaze, broke whatever strength I had left. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

A sob escaped me, and I sank to the ground, my legs giving way. Advika didn’t hesitate. She came right in front of me, kneeling down and wrapping her arms tightly around me.

“Shh, shh, Vivan,” she whispered softly into my ear, her voice trembling but strong. “I’m with you. I’m always with you.”

I clutched her like she was the only anchor in a storm, my head buried in her shoulder. “Everyone knew,” I choked out, my voice breaking. “Everyone knew I don’t have a family.

Advika pulled back just enough to cup my face in her hands, her palms warm against my tear-streaked cheeks. She made me look into her eyes, her gaze steady and fierce.

“I am your family, Vivan,” she said firmly, her voice filled with emotion. “You are more than enough. I don’t care about blood or surnames. I married you, not your last name, not your family history. You.”

Her words hit me like a soothing balm on an open wound.

“And not just me,” she continued, her thumbs gently brushing away my tears. “Your mom, your dad, Sarah—every single one of them loves you. You are their family. Blood isn’t everything, Vivan. Some relationships are far more beautiful than blood ones.”

I stared at her, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions. Her words felt like a lifeline, pulling me out of the dark abyss I had fallen into.

I couldn’t stop myself—I pulled her into another hug, holding onto her as if my life depended on it. For the first time in hours, the storm inside me began to calm.

Advika gently guided me towards the bed, her arm firmly around my shoulder. She made me lie down, her touch soft and comforting. Sitting beside me, she began caressing my hair in soothing strokes. Each motion seemed to pull me away from the darkness I had been drowning in.

I didn’t realize when my eyelids started to grow heavy. But just before sleep claimed me, I saw her face. Her gentle, reassuring presence was the last thing I saw, and in that moment, a thought struck me—I wasn’t alone. I had her. I had a family.

The next morning, the warm light of dawn filtered through the curtains, waking me. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was her. Advika was still sitting in the same position, her head leaning slightly to the side as she slept. One of her hands rested protectively on my hair, even in her sleep.

A pang of guilt hit me seeing her like tha ,she had stayed up all night for me. I gently moved her hand away, careful not to wake her. She stirred slightly but didn’t open her eyes.

I smiled softly at her, grateful beyond words. Leaning closer, I slid an arm under her and carefully shifted her onto the bed. I made sure she was comfortable, adjusting the pillow beneath her head.

For a moment, I just stood there, looking at her peaceful face. Her strength, her love—it was everything I needed and more. I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Thank you,” I whispered, though I knew she couldn’t hear me.

With one last glance, I quietly left the room, determined to face the day with the courage she had given me.

The early morning breeze brushed against my face as I stood in the garden, staring blankly at the horizon. The weight of last night’s revelations still pressed heavily on my chest. I had walked out of my room after ensuring Advika was comfortably asleep, but sleep was far from my reach. The truth of my past, my identity—it was all too much.

I closed my eyes, trying to silence the storm in my mind, when I heard a soft, hesitant voice.

“Bhai…”

I turned around and saw Sarah standing a few feet away. She looked as though she hadn’t slept either, her face pale and her eyes puffy.

“Sarah?” I said, surprised. “Why are you up so early?”

She walked closer, her arms crossed as if trying to protect herself from the morning chill—or maybe from the truth she had learned. “I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “I kept thinking about what happened last night.”

I sighed and looked away, unsure of how to face her. “Sarah, you should rest. There’s nothing more to talk about.”

“Nothing to talk about?” she said, her voice trembling. “Bhai, you’ve been hiding this from me my entire life. How can you say there’s nothing to talk about?”

I clenched my fists, the guilt hitting me like a wave. “Because I didn’t want to hurt you,” I said quietly. “You were just a kid. What would you have done if you knew I wasn’t really your brother? If you knew I wasn’t—”

“You are my brother!” she snapped, her voice firm despite the tears threatening to fall. She stepped closer, forcing me to meet her gaze. “Don’t you ever say that again. You’re my Bhai, and nothing can change that.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at her, struggling to find the right words. “But Sarah… I’m not Raichand. I’m not—”

“You’re not what?” she cut me off, her voice shaking with emotion. “Not my blood? Bhai, do you think that matters to me? You’ve always been my brother, my protector, my best friend. How can you think that your past changes what you mean to me?”

The lump in my throat grew larger. “I didn’t want you to look at me differently,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You’ll never lose me, Bhai. Never. You’re my world, and nothing—not this truth, not anything—can change that.”

Her words broke through every wall I had built. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears spilled from my eyes as I pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “For hiding this, for doubting my place in your life”

“Don’t ever say that,” she interrupted, her voice muffled against my chest. “You’re more than enough, Bhai. You always have been.”

I held her close, letting her words sink in. For the first time in years, I felt a flicker of peace. She wasn’t just saying it ,she meant it.

After a long moment, Sarah pulled back and wiped her tears, a small smile on her face. “Promise me one thing,” she said, looking up at me.

“What?”

“No matter what happens, you’ll never question your place in this family again. You’re not just my Bhai. You’re the heart of this family.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by her words. “I promise,” I said softly.

And as I stood there in the soft light of the morning, I realized that Sarah wasn’t just my sister,she was my anchor. Blood or no blood, this bond we shared was unbreakable. I wasn’t alone. I never had been.

As I held Sarah close, letting her words soothe the storm within me, I heard a shuffle behind us. I loosened my grip and looked over her shoulder, only to see the rest of my cousins standing there in a line. Khushi, Akshit, agrima and even the usually reserved Ansh stood silently, their faces a mix of emotions ,love and concern,

Khushi was the first to break the silence, folding her arms and pouting dramatically. “Humein gale nahi lagaoge, Bhai?” she said, pretending to be offended.

Akshit, always quick to join in, added, “Yeah, is all this love only for Sarah? What about us?”

Ansh, in his quiet but firm tone, said, “We’re family too, Bhai. Always have been.”

My throat tightened as I looked at them. For years, I had kept myself distant, convinced that I didn’t truly belong. But here they were, standing together, looking at me with nothing but love and acceptance.

Without a word, I opened my arms wide, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face. “Come here, all of you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

In an instant, they all rushed toward me, wrapping their arms around me in a chaotic yet heartfelt embrace. Khushi and Akshit practically climbed on me, hanging on like kids, while Ansh stood to the side, placing a firm hand on my shoulder before pulling me in.

For the first time in years, I felt the weight of my self-doubt and isolation lift. These weren’t just cousins—they were my family. My real family.

As they clung to me tightly, Akshit, ever the joker, said, “Bhai, now all these years of missed love are being made up in one go. Let me breathe!”

Everyone laughed, the sound filling the garden with warmth. Agrima, still hugging me tightly, added, “And don’t even think about saying you’re not one of us. You’re our brother, and you always will be.”

Even Ansh, who rarely showed his emotions, gave me a small smile. “We’ve always looked up to you, Bhai. Never doubt that.”

Tears stung my eyes again, but this time, they weren’t from pain. They were from gratitude, from the overwhelming realization that I had been so wrong all these years.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “For keeping myself away from all of you. For doubting this bond. I… I don’t deserve this love.”

Khushi pulled back just enough to glare at me. “Stop right there, Bhai! Don’t ever say that. You deserve every bit of it. Without you, the Raichand family would feel incomplete.”

Akshit grinned and added, “Exactly. You’re the hero of the Raichand family!”

I laughed through my tears, pulling them all closer. “Thank you,” I said softly, my voice full of emotion. “For reminding me what family really means.”

As we stood there, tangled in a group hug under the morning sky, I realized that I wasn’t alone—and I never would be. This wasn’t just about blood ties or surnames. This was love. This was home.

We broke the hug when my phone pinged with a notification. I pulled it out to check, still feeling the warmth of the moment we had shared. My cousins were busy chatting and laughing, their voices filling the air with joy. But the moment I saw the notification, my heart sank.

All the happiness I had just felt vanished in an instant. The headline flashing on my screen was like a punch to the gut: "Breaking News: Vivan Raichand Not a Raichand?"

My breath hitched as I stared at the words, unable to process them. How could this have gotten out? My mind raced, trying to figure out how this private truth had become public knowledge.

Sarah’s voice pulled me out of my daze. “Bhai, what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I glanced up at her, unable to speak. The shock in my expression must have been enough to alarm her because she stepped closer, grabbing my arm gently. “Bhai, say something!”

“They… they made it a breaking news,” I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What do you mean?” Khushi asked, her smile fading as she noticed the tension on my face.

I held up my phone, showing them the screen. The words glared back at all of us: "Vivan Raichand is not a Raichand! Breaking news across all channels."

~Bachpan sa aaj tak ek dar,

Liya jee rha tha!!

Aaj sabka pyaar dekhkar pta chla,

Bin baat ke hi dar rha tha!!~

Chapter updated

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