Chapter 60
.It was a sunny day, Armaan , Ansh , Abhimanyu and Ashvik were going to their Mother’s hometown, to their Uncle ..
The car rolled to a stop in front of a large ancestral house.
The moment Ashvik saw it-
his stomach twisted.
Memories.
Too many memories.
Years of being dragged here.
Years of punishment.
Years of hearing the same words.
“Your mother died because of you.”
“You brought bad luck.”
“You should have never been born.”
Every visit had ended the same way.
And every year-
his brothers had stood beside their uncle.
Not him.
Ashvik lowered his eyes.
His fingers tightened around the edge of his shirt.
He knew things were different now.
He knew Armaan, Ansh, and Abhimanyu loved him.
They had proven it again and again.
But…
This was their uncle.
The man who had practically helped raise them.
The man they loved.
What if they chose him?
What if today changed everything?
What if they realized they hated Ashvik again?
The thought alone made his chest hurt.
—
The front door opened.
A middle-aged man stepped outside.
Tall.
Sharp features.
Cold eyes.
Uncle Rajveer.
For a second, he smiled at Armaan, Ansh, and Abhimanyu.
Then his gaze landed on Ashvik.
The smile disappeared instantly.
Like someone had erased it.
Ashvik immediately looked down.
—
“Armaan.”
Rajveer hugged him.
Then Ansh.
Then Abhimanyu.
“Good to see you boys.”
The brothers smiled politely.
But none of them missed the way Rajveer completely ignored Ashvik.
—
Several uncomfortable seconds passed.
Finally Rajveer glanced toward him.
His expression hardened.
“Why did you bring him?”
The words landed like a slap.
Ashvik flinched.
Silence.
Rajveer scoffed.
“What? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten everything.”
His eyes narrowed at Ashvik.
“The same boy who took your mother away or did you forget his father.”
Ashvik’s breathing stopped.
“Uncle-“
Ansh started.
But Rajveer wasn’t finished.
“You boys spent years understanding what he did.”
His voice grew sharper.
“And now suddenly he’s welcome everywhere?”
Ashvik lowered his head further.
His eyes burned.
No.
Please.
Not today.
Rajveer folded his arms.
“You know, every time I look at him, I remember my sister.”
His jaw clenched.
“She died bringing him into this world.”
Ashvik’s hands trembled.
He could already feel tears forming.
Then-
A voice cut through the air.
Cold.
Firm.
Dangerously calm.
“No.”
Rajveer blinked.
Armaan had spoken.
“No, Uncle.”
The second eldest brother inname but the most hot tempered one .
“We didn’t lose Mom because of Ashvik.”
Rajveer stared at him.
“What?”
Armaan’s eyes never left his.
“We lost Mom because childbirth complications happen.”
His voice shook slightly.
“But not because of him and whatever his father did he is not responsible for that .”
Rajveer looked genuinely shocked.
Before he could answer-
Abhimanyu stepped beside Armaan.
“And we’re not letting anyone blame him anymore.”
Rajveer frowned.
“You don’t understand-“
“No.”
This time it was Ansh.
“We understand perfectly.”
His voice was hard.
“For years we punished him.”
Ashvik looked up.
Slowly.
Disbelievingly.
Ansh continued.
“We ignored him.”
“We hurt him.”
“We blamed him.”
His eyes filled with guilt.
“And we were wrong.”
Rajveer stared.
Completely speechless.
Ashvik’s heart pounded.
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Rajveer finally looked at Abhimanyu.
“You used to agree with me.”
Abhimanyu’s expression darkened.
“I know.”
The words came out quietly.
“And it’s the biggest regret of my life.”
The yard fell silent.
Rajveer looked from one brother to another.
Waiting.
Expecting one of them to back down.
None did.
Then his gaze returned to Ashvik.
“Look at him.”
He scoffed.
“You boys are defending him while he hides behind you.”
Instantly Ashvik took a step back.
Fear flashing across his face.
And instantly-
Three brothers moved.
Standing directly in front of him.
Shielding him.
Rajveer froze.
For the first time in his life-
Ashvik wasn’t standing alone.
Armaan’s voice was ice.
“He’s not hiding.”
Ansh folded his arms.
“He’s scared.”
Abhimanyu’s jaw tightened.
“And he’s scared because of things people like us said to him.”
The words hit harder than any shout.
Ashvik felt tears slide down his cheeks.
He quickly wiped them away.
But Armaan noticed.
Immediately.
Without looking away from Rajveer, he reached back and grabbed Ashvik’s hand.
Firmly.
Protectively.
—
Ansh rested a hand on Ashvik’s shoulder.
—
Abhimanyu moved even closer.
Making sure Ashvik was completely behind them.
—
The gesture was small.
But to Ashvik-
it felt like the entire world had changed.
—
For years-
these were the same brothers who had stood beside Uncle Rajveer.
While Ashvik stood alone.
—
Now-
they stood beside Ashvik.
And Rajveer stood alone.
—
Ashvik’s lip trembled.
A painful thought echoing in his mind.
“They chose me…”
“They really chose me…”
And for the first time since arriving-
the terrified little boy inside him felt just a little safer.
Rajveer stood frozen in the yard.
The argument had ended.
But the tension remained.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Painful.
—
For several long moments-
nobody spoke.
—
Then Rajveer sighed.
A tired, frustrated sound.
He rubbed his forehead.
And looked directly at the three older brothers.
“Fine.”
His voice was cold.
“If this is how things are now…”
His eyes briefly flickered toward Ashvik.
“…then maybe it’s better if you all leave.”
—
Silence.
—
Ashvik’s heart dropped.
—
Rajveer folded his arms.
“You clearly don’t need me anymore.”
—
“Uncle-“
Abhimanyu started.
—
“No.”
Rajveer shook his head.
“Go home.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“All of you.”
—
The yard became painfully quiet.
—
Ashvik immediately lowered his head.
Guilt flooded his chest.
—
It’s my fault.
—
Again.
—
Everything is ruined because of me.
—
His eyes burned.
—
Armaan noticed instantly.
The moment Ashvik’s shoulders slumped.
The moment his fingers started twisting nervously together.
The moment that familiar look appeared on his face.
—
The look that said-
“I’m blaming myself.”
—
Armaan’s expression softened.
—
“Come on.”
He gently touched Ashvik’s shoulder.
“We’re leaving.”
—
Ashvik nodded silently.
—
The drive back was unusually quiet.
—
Ashvik sat by the window.
Watching trees blur past.
Not saying a single word.
—
Ansh hated it.
Absolutely hated it.
—
Usually Ashvik smiled whenever his brothers teased him.
Usually he laughed at their stupid arguments.
Usually he rolled his eyes at Ansh’s terrible jokes.
—
Today?
Nothing.
—
Not even a smile.
—
Ansh exchanged a glance with Armaan through the rearview mirror.
—
Armaan immediately understood.
—
Five minutes later-
instead of taking the highway home-
Armaan turned the car sharply.
—
Ashvik blinked.
—
“Uh…”
Abhimanyu looked outside.
“Why are we going this way?”
—
A tiny smile appeared on Armaan’s face.
—
“Because.”
—
“Because?” Ansh repeated.
—
Armaan pointed ahead.
—
A giant roller coaster suddenly appeared in the distance.
—
Then colorful rides.
Huge spinning wheels.
Bright signs.
—
Ashvik’s eyes widened.
—
“…Amusement park?”
—
Armaan nodded.
—
The first genuine reaction all day.
—
Abhimanyu grinned.
“Thought you could use a distraction.”
—
Ashvik stared at them.
—
“Really?”
—
“Really.”
—
For the first time since leaving Rajveer’s house-
a tiny smile appeared on Ashvik’s face.
—
And Ansh immediately pointed dramatically.
—
“LOOK!”
—
Everyone jumped.
—
“What?!” Abhimanyu asked.
—
Ansh gasped dramatically.
—
“HE SMILED!”
—
Ashvik groaned.
—
“WE HAVE VISUAL CONFIRMATION!”
Ansh yelled.
—
Abhimanyu slapped a hand over his face.
—
Armaan started laughing.
—
Ashvik rolled his eyes.
But the smile remained.
—
Mission accomplished.
—
Or so Ansh thought.
—
The second they entered the amusement park-
Ansh began telling jokes.
—
Horrible jokes.
—
The worst jokes known to mankind.
—
“Hey Ashvik.”
—
“What?”
—
“What do you call a sleeping dinosaur?”
—
Ashvik sighed.
—
“I don’t know.”
—
“A dino-snore.”
—
Silence.
—
Pure silence.
—
A random stranger walking past physically cringed.
—
Abhimanyu looked offended.
—
“That was terrible.”
—
“Thank you.”
Ansh bowed.
—
“No, I mean genuinely terrible.”
—
“Thank you.”
—
Ashvik covered his face.
—
Then another joke came.
—
“Hey Ashvik.”
—
“No.”
—
“What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?”
—
“No.”
—
“Sofishticated.”
—
Abhimanyu looked ready to throw himself into a fountain.
—
“Armaan.”
—
“Yeah?”
—
“Can we leave him here?”
—
“Tempting.”
—
Ansh gasped.
“Betrayal!”
—
Ashvik snorted.
—
Actually snorted.
—
Everyone froze.
—
Because it wasn’t just a smile.
—
It was a real laugh trying to escape.
—
Ansh pointed again.
—
“HE’S BREAKING!”
—
“I’m not!”
Ashvik immediately protested.
—
“You laughed!”
—
“I did not!”
—
“You absolutely did!”
—
“I sneezed!”
—
“You sneezed while smiling?”
—
“Yes!”
—
“That’s not how sneezing works!”
—
Ashvik finally burst out laughing.
—
A real laugh.
—
Bright.
Warm.
Genuine.
—
The sound made all three brothers stop.
—
For a moment-
they simply listened.
—
Because after everything Ashvik had gone through today-
after hearing those cruel words again-
after being reminded of years of pain-
he was laughing.
—
And honestly?
That was worth more than any ride in the entire amusement park.
—
Ansh immediately threw both arms into the air.
—
“YES!”
—
“WHY ARE YOU CELEBRATING?” Ashvik asked between laughs.
—
“Because my comedy career is finally taking off.”
—
“No.”
Abhimanyu deadpanned.
—
“Not even remotely.”
—
The brothers’ laughter echoed through the amusement park.
And for the first time that day-
Ashvik forgot about Uncle Rajveer.
Forgot about the hurt.
Forgot about the guilt.
—
Because surrounded by his brothers-
he finally felt what he had wanted his whole life.
—
Loved.
Protected.
And never alone. ❤️
The amusement park buzzed with life.
Children ran past carrying giant balloons.
Music echoed from every direction.
The smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and freshly made waffles filled the air.
—
And for the first time all day-
Ashvik looked happy.
Actually happy.
—
The brothers noticed immediately.
—
The tightness in his shoulders had disappeared.
The sadness in his eyes had faded.
And every few seconds he found himself staring at another ride with excitement.
—
Ansh grinned.
Mission successful.
—
“Okay!”
He clapped his hands dramatically.
“First ride!”
—
Ashvik’s eyes lit up.
—
“The roller coaster!”
—
“No.”
Armaan answered immediately.
—
“What?”
—
“No.”
—
“Why?”
—
“Because last time Ansh screamed louder than a fire alarm.”
—
Abhimanyu burst out laughing.
—
Ansh looked offended.
—
“I was expressing my emotions.”
—
“You were begging for your mother.”
—
“I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE!”
—
Ashvik laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
—
Five minutes later-
they were sitting inside the roller coaster anyway.
—
Armaan regretted every life decision that had brought him here.
—
The safety bars locked.
—
The ride started climbing.
Slowly.
Higher.
Higher.
Higher.
—
Ansh immediately grabbed Ashvik’s arm.
—
“Ashvik.”
—
“What?”
—
“If I don’t survive…”
—
“Oh no.”
—
“Tell people I was handsome.”
—
“You aren’t dying.”
—
“YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!”
—
Abhimanyu was already laughing.
—
Then-
the coaster dropped.
—
Four screams echoed through the entire park.
—
Three normal screams.
And one scream that sounded suspiciously like Ansh summoning every ancestor he had ever had.
—
When the ride ended-
Ashvik was laughing so hard tears streamed down his face.
—
Meanwhile Ansh stumbled out looking spiritually defeated.
—
“I saw my future.”
—
“No you didn’t.”
—
“I saw great-grandfather.”
—
“You absolutely did not.”
—
“He was disappointed in me.”
—
Ashvik laughed even harder.
—
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
—
They raced go-karts.
—
Abhimanyu cheated.
—
“I did not!”
—
“You literally cut across the track!”
Armaan argued.
—
“That’s called strategy.”
—
“That’s called illegal.”
—
Ashvik laughed so hard he almost drove into a tire barrier.
—
Then they played carnival games.
—
Ansh spent twenty euros trying to win a giant teddy bear.
—
He failed.
Repeatedly.
—
The twelve-year-old beside him won on the first try.
—
The humiliation was immediate.
—
Ashvik eventually won the bear himself.
—
And handed it to Ansh.
—
“Here.”
—
Ansh stared dramatically.
—
“You won this for me?”
—
“No.”
—
Ansh’s smile disappeared.
—
“I’m holding it until we get home.”
—
Ansh gasped.
—
“Monster.”
—
The brothers spent the next hour arguing over ownership of the teddy bear.
—
Eventually-
they stopped near a cotton candy stand.
—
Armaan bought one for each of them.
—
Ansh immediately dropped his.
—
Directly onto the ground.
—
Everyone stared.
—
The cotton candy stared back.
—
Silence.
—
Then Ashvik started laughing.
—
Soon Abhimanyu joined.
—
Then Armaan.
—
Even a few strangers nearby were laughing.
—
Ansh looked at his fallen cotton candy.
—
Then sighed dramatically.
—
“This is the worst thing that’s happened to me today.”
—
Ashvik nearly choked laughing.
—
As evening approached-
the park lights began to glow.
Thousands of tiny lights illuminated every path.
—
The atmosphere felt magical.
—
The brothers sat together on a bench near the giant Ferris wheel.
—
For a few minutes-
nobody spoke.
—
They simply watched people pass by.
Listened to the distant music.
Enjoyed the cool evening breeze.
—
Ashvik sat between Armaan and Abhimanyu.
The giant teddy bear resting beside him.
—
A small smile remained on his face.
—
The brothers exchanged glances.
—
The sadness from earlier was gone.
—
At least for now.
—
Armaan gently ruffled Ashvik’s hair.
—
“You okay?”
—
Ashvik looked at him.
Then at Ansh.
Then at Abhimanyu.
—
And smiled.
A real smile.
—
“Yeah.”
—
The answer was simple.
But it made all three brothers relax.
—
Because today had started with pain.
With old wounds.
With cruel words.
—
Yet somehow-
it had ended with laughter.
With family.
With memories that would stay forever.
—
And as the Ferris wheel lights reflected in Ashvik’s eyes-
he realized something.
—
Maybe he couldn’t change the past.
Maybe he couldn’t erase the years of hurt.
—
But now-
when he looked beside him-
he didn’t see people who blamed him anymore.
—
He saw his brothers.
His protectors.
His family.
—
And for the first time in a very long time-
Ashvik felt completely safe. ❤️
I will write more bonus parts if y’all would like to read; if there is a good response i might start writing this book again…like continuation.