The Crossroads

Ayush stood frozen in the parking lot, Aryan and Avni’s words echoing in his head.

"Anirudh needs you." "What’s more important—some corporate nonsense or your own brother?"

He clenched his fists.

Anirudh had always been the strict one, the one he resented the most. But at the end of the day, he was still his brother.

But then there was Arnav. For the first time, his ruthless older brother had placed trust in him. He had given him a real responsibility—something no one had ever done before.

One choice could change everything.

His chest tightened. "Where is Anirudh?"

Avni hid her smirk. "His case got out of control. The judge is threatening to suspend him. He needs someone to testify on his behalf."

Ayush’s grip on his phone tightened. "Why didn’t he call me himself?"

Aryan quickly covered, "Dude, you know how Anirudh is. He wouldn’t ask for help. But we saw him, Ayush—he’s in deep trouble."

Ayush exhaled. He turned toward the Oberoi Tower, where the meeting was about to start.

Then he turned back to Aryan and Avni.

And then—he made his decision.

The Meeting Begins… Without Ayush

Inside the Oberoi boardroom, the Sharma Group executives sat across from Arnav, waiting.

One of them frowned, checking his watch. "Mr. Oberoi, I thought your brother was handling the presentation?"

Arnav’s jaw clenched slightly. His gaze flickered to the empty seat beside him.

"Clearly," he said coolly, "he isn’t."

The room went silent.

Arnav’s fingers drummed against the table. He had taken a risk—he had given Ayush a chance. And Ayush had just thrown it away.

Without hesitation, he pulled the presentation toward him. "Let’s begin."

But deep inside, something burned.

The Lie Unravels

Meanwhile, Ayush rushed toward the courthouse, his heart pounding.

"Please don’t be too late."

He pushed open the courtroom doors—only to find Anirudh standing calmly, arguing a case like nothing was wrong.

No panic. No crisis. No suspension.

Ayush’s stomach dropped.

Anirudh noticed him and frowned. "Ayush? What are you doing here?"

Ayush took a step back. His blood ran cold.

"They lied."

He turned and ran.

The Fallout

Avni and Aryan were waiting at home, grinning.

"Well," Aryan said, "it’s done. Ayush will be—"

The doors slammed open.

Ayush stormed in, eyes burning with fury. "You LIED to me!"

Avni’s smirk faltered. "Ayush, wait—"

"Shut up!" His voice cracked. "I trusted you! I believed you! And because of you, I just threw away the most important chance of my life!"

Aryan stood up, looking guilty. "Bro, we were just—"

"Just what?" Ayush laughed bitterly. "Helping me? You didn’t help me! You RUINED me!"

Avni crossed her arms, regaining her composure. "Oh, please. You’re acting like Arnav was actually going to reward you. You were always going to be his puppet!"

Ayush took a step closer, his voice dangerously low. "I was proving myself. Something neither of you ever did."

Aryan looked away. Avni refused to back down.

Ayush shook his head. "You know what? I was stupid to think you guys ever wanted what was best for me."

Then his voice dropped. "I should’ve never chosen you over him."

Avni flinched. For the first time, her confidence wavered.

Ayush turned and walked away. "I have to fix this."

But deep inside, he knew—Arnav didn’t forgive betrayal.

And this time… Ayush had truly lost his brother’s trust.

To Be Continued…

What should happen next? Should Arnav cut off Ayush completely, or should he give him a brutal second chance?