The night air was heavy. The clock had already crossed 11:00 PM, and Vivaan finally decided it was time to head home. The excitement of his cricket victory had long drained away, replaced by the dread of what awaited him. Every step he took felt heavier than the bat he had carried all evening.
The road stretched ahead, dimly lit by scattered streetlights. Vivaan slung his kit bag over his shoulder, but his grip on the strap was shaky. His sneakers scuffed against the ground, echoing loudly in the emptiness. Here and there, a few people still lingered—returning from shops, chatting near stalls—but as he moved deeper into his society lane, the crowd thinned until there was no one.
The flickering light above the gate gave a faint buzz, making the shadows dance. The usually familiar street now seemed alien. His chest tightened.
Why does it feel so quiet tonight? Why does everything look… scarier?
He swallowed, hugging his bag closer. The bushes rustled lightly with the night wind, but in his nervous state, Vivaan imagined figures lurking in them. Every shadow looked like a person watching him.
His pace quickened. He hunched his shoulders and glanced behind every few seconds. There was no one following him, but his imagination whispered otherwise. His breathing became shallow.
When he entered the main road , his heart nearly stopped. In one building The guard's chair near the gate was empty. The street lamps inside the compound were either dim or dead. The entire lane towards their building was drowned in darkness.
Vivaan froze in his tracks. "Oh God… no, no, no…"
He tightened his grip on the phone in his pocket, his fingers trembling. His throat went dry as he dialed Reyansh's number.
The phone rang. Once. Twice.
Then came the voice he needed to hear—sharp, clipped, yet familiar.
"Vivaan?"
Vivaan's control broke. "Bhaiya!" His voice cracked, breathless. "Bhaiya I—I'm sorry, please… help me. I'm in the main road but… it's so dark. I can't move forward. I swear I'm sorry for being late. Please, bhaiya, come fast!" His words tumbled out in panic.
On the other end, Reyansh stood frozen in their apartment, phone pressed to his ear. His jaw clenched. His head was already boiling with anger from the three hours of waiting, the uneaten dinner, the worry eating at his insides. But hearing Vivaan's panicked, helpless voice made his chest ache.
He grabbed his car keys instantly. "Vivaan, listen to me. Stay where you are. Don't move. Keep talking to me." His tone was firm but softer now, forced calm layered over the storm brewing inside him.
Vivaan's breaths were ragged. "Bhaiya, please hurry… it feels like someone's watching me. I can't even walk. I'm so sorry. I should've come earlier. Please just come, bhaiya."
"Shh. Don't cry," Reyansh's voice lowered, as if he could hold him through the phone. "Look at the streetlight near you. Just keep your eyes there. I'm on my way."
Vivaan's knees trembled. He pressed his back against the compound wall, clutching the phone like it was life itself. "Bhaiya, I promise—I'll never do this again. Just don't be angry. Please."
Reyansh's car roared out of the parking lot. His fingers gripped the steering wheel tight, his mind a mess of fury and protectiveness. He wanted to scold, to shout, but he also wanted to just reach Vivaan before the fear crushed him.
Minutes later, headlights swept across the dark lane. Vivaan blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting. Then he saw him—Reyansh stepping out of the car.
"Bhaiya!" Vivaan dropped his kit bag with a thud and sprinted forward. His arms wrapped tightly around Reyansh's torso, nearly knocking him back. His hug was desperate, trembling, as if he had been drowning and finally reached the shore.
Reyansh instinctively held him close, his palm sliding up to stroke his hair. "It's okay. I'm here now." His voice was gentle, though his jaw was still tight.
Vivaan buried his face in his brother's shirt. "I was so scared… I couldn't move. I'm sorry, bhaiya. I'm really sorry."
Reyansh exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a second. "Enough. Let's go home."
The Ride Home
The car ride was suffocating in silence. Vivaan sat stiffly, his bag on his lap, eyes glued to his sneakers. His fingers picked nervously at the strap. The only sound was the hum of the engine.
Reyansh's hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, his gaze fixed on the road. His face was unreadable, but his silence was louder than any scolding.
Vivaan's stomach twisted. He wanted to say something—anything—to soften the storm—but the words stuck in his throat.
At Home
When they entered the apartment, the weight of silence followed. The dining table was still set, the food untouched.
Reyansh's tone was low. "Sit."
Vivaan obeyed instantly, sliding into the chair. He kept his head bowed.
Reyansh served the food without speaking. His movements were controlled, but the tension in his shoulders was clear. Vivaan's hands trembled slightly as he lifted his spoon. Each clink of cutlery sounded like thunder in the quiet room.
Finally, after they finished, Reyansh spoke. His voice was calm, but the calmness was more terrifying than shouting.
"What time did I say you should be home?"
Vivaan swallowed hard. "…Eight."
"And what time did you come?"
"…Eleven." His voice was barely a whisper.
"Three. Hours. Late." Reyansh leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Do you know what that means, Vivaan? Do you even understand how worried I was? Forty-four missed calls, Vivaan! I don't call anyone forty-four times. Do you realize how irresponsible this is?"
Tears blurred Vivaan's vision. "Bhaiya, I… I lost track of time after the match. Everyone was celebrating and—"
"Don't you dare give me excuses." Reyansh's palm slammed against the table, making Vivaan flinch. His voice rose, harsh. "You had one condition. One. Come home on time. Winning the match doesn't give you the right to break rules. Do you think cricket is more important than your safety? Than my peace of mind?"
Vivaan's lips trembled. "No… I swear, bhaiya, I didn't mean—"
"Enough." Reyansh's eyes were cold. "You want to play grown-up, staying out late? Then face consequences."
He pointed to the corner of the living room. "Go. Fifteen minutes. Face the wall. No arguments."
Vivaan's chest heaved, but he didn't protest. He shuffled to the corner, his head bowed, tears slipping silently down his cheeks. He pressed his palms against the wall, standing still, his shoulders shaking.
Reyansh sat on the sofa, arms folded, his eyes never leaving his brother's small frame. Anger still boiled inside him, but beneath it was a painful tug—watching Vivaan tremble like that hurt more than he wanted to admit.
Minutes passed. Ten. Twelve.
Reyansh sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. The anger had dulled, leaving behind guilt. He rose, walked to the corner, and quietly wrapped his arms around Vivaan from behind.
Vivaan gasped softly, then turned and buried his face in Reyansh's chest, sobbing.
Reyansh pressed his forehead against his brother's hair. "Don't ever do this again, Viu. Don't make me lose my mind with worry. Come home on time. Always."
Vivaan clung tighter, nodding quickly. "I promise, bhaiya. I won't. I'm sorry. I really am."
Reyansh kissed the top of his head gently. "Good. That's all I want. Not punishments. Not anger. Just… you safe."
Later that Night
The storm had passed, but exhaustion lingered. Vivaan climbed into Reyansh's bed without asking, curling against him. His head rested against his brother's chest, listening to the steady heartbeat that finally calmed him.
For the first time that night, Reyansh's lips curved into a faint smile. He tightened his arm around the boy.
"Bhaiya…" Vivaan whispered softly, almost shy. "I… I won the match. I hit the last six. Everyone cheered."
Reyansh chuckled, stroking his hair. "Of course you did. My little champ."
later
The room was dimly lit, the soft yellow glow of the night lamp falling on the two brothers. Vivaan lay sprawled across his bed, hugging his pillow like it was a teddy bear, his legs hanging half outside the blanket. Reyansh, sitting on the edge of his own bed, had his laptop balanced on his lap, still typing away with a serious face.
"Bhaiya…" Vivaan's muffled voice came from under the pillow.
Reyansh didn't look up. "Hmm?"
"Tomorrow is Monday…" Vivaan dragged the word with exaggerated horror, peeking one eye out from the pillow.
Reyansh finally shut the laptop with a sigh and turned towards him. "Yes. Tomorrow is Monday. Tomorrow is also school. And tomorrow morning, please don't turn the house into a cricket stadium like today."
Vivaan chuckled, rolling onto his back. "Arrey, today was different na! Match tha. Tension tha." He threw his hands dramatically in the air as if he was giving a post-match interview. "But tomorrow… chill. I'll wake up silently."
Reyansh raised one eyebrow, unconvinced. "Silently? You? The same person who brushes teeth like he's drilling a wall?"
Vivaan burst out laughing and held his stomach. "Arrey no, no… this time pakka promise. I'll wake up quietly. Just… maybe… hum a little song while brushing." He winked.
Reyansh crossed his arms. "Vivaan. If you hum, sing, dance, or even breathe loudly tomorrow morning, don't blame me for what happens."
"Wah! What a scary dialogue, CEO sahab," Vivaan teased, clapping softly. "Even Bollywood villains will resign after hearing this."
Reyansh shook his head, but the corner of his lips twitched into a smile. "I'm serious. I have back-to-back meetings tomorrow. I don't want to go half-dead because my brother decided to rehearse stand-up comedy while finding socks."
Vivaan sat up, scratching his head, his hair going in all directions. "Bhaiya, ek baat batao…"
"What?" Reyansh asked, already suspicious.
"Why do meetings always happen on Monday? Can't your office people take Sunday meetings instead?"
Reyansh gave him a look so sharp that Vivaan immediately lay down flat again and pulled the blanket over his face. "Okay, okay! Bas puch raha tha." His muffled giggles escaped from under the blanket.
"Tomorrow morning," Reyansh said slowly, his voice low and controlled, "I want you ready on time. Bag packed, uniform ironed, shoes polished. No excuses, no chaos. Otherwise—" He stopped, exhaling heavily, running a hand through his hair.
Vivaan peeked out again, grinning. "Otherwise kya? You'll give me CEO-style punishment? 'Vivaan Malhotra, as per today's rulebook, your breakfast is officially canceled!'" He mimicked Reyansh's voice, waving his hand like a judge.
Reyansh tried not to laugh, but he pressed his lips together, hiding the smile. "You're impossible."
"Exactly," Vivaan said proudly, "and that's why you love me."
Reyansh shook his head again, switching off his laptop and setting it aside. He looked at his little brother still giggling under the blanket, and for a brief second, his expression softened. But then he cleared his throat and pointed at him. "Remember, Vivaan. Tomorrow morning—no drama. Otherwise, you'll see my real anger. Even I don't know how much is stored inside."
Vivaan gulped dramatically, clutching the blanket to his chest. "Oh nooo… Bhaiya's anger! Save me, Bhagwan ji!"
Reyansh threw a pillow at him. Vivaan caught it and laughed until he finally lay down properly. "Fine, fine. No chaos. Pakka promise."
"Good," Reyansh muttered, lying down too. He switched off the lamp, leaving the room in comfortable darkness.
After a few seconds, Vivaan's voice whispered again, "Bhaiya… just one last thing…"
Reyansh groaned. "What now?"
"If I wake up early tomorrow without chaos, will I get extra paratha in breakfast?"
There was silence for a moment. Then Reyansh replied in a dry tone, "If you wake up early without chaos… I'll give you the whole tawa."
Vivaan smiled sleepily, the fear of the night finally melting away.
The room was quiet, peaceful. No more scolding, no more tears. Just the warmth of two brothers holding onto each other, letting the night carry away the tension.
Within minutes, Vivaan's breathing slowed, and his eyelids fluttered shut. Reyansh stayed awake a little longer, watching his brother's peaceful face, before finally closing his own eyes.
Together, they drifted into sleep—anger, fear, and punishment giving way to love, safety, and quiet.
Author's Note:
So that's where tonight's drama ended—with Vivaan's late-night panic and Reyansh's mix of strict discipline and quiet comfort. Now, I'm curious what you'd like to see next!
👉 Should the story continue with Vivaan stuck in the school lift, where Reyansh's protective side explodes in anger at the principal for negligence?
OR
👉 Should we shift the focus to Reyansh's office scene, where his strict, commanding nature comes out in a completely different environment?
Tell me in the comments which track excites you more for the next chapter! 💭✨