📅 Early December — Evening, Sudarshini Riverbank
The air was thick with fear.
Parents clutched each other. Teachers shouted names. Siblings trembled, gripping railings, fists, or each other.
Abhay and Ishanvi stood together, soaked with river mist, hearts hammering, breaths uneven.
They can't see us panic. Not now.
Siblings in Distress
Vaidehi's voice quivered. "Where… where are they?"
Aariv clung to Vivaan. "Ishanvi didi… Abhay bhai…" he whimpered.
Vrinda pressed Meera's hand to her mouth. "Why… why can't we see them?"
Raghav stood stiff, jaw tight. His knuckles were white. Earlier that morning, he had argued with their mother over something small. He had planned to apologize once they got home — a thought that now seemed cruelly impossible.
If only I had said sorry… maybe nothing would have happened.
The guilt weighed on him, sharp and relentless.
Abhay and Ishanvi Step Forward
Abhay took a deep breath.
"Everyone… listen," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We need to stay calm. Panicking won't help."
Ishanvi's hand rested briefly on his arm, warmth spreading through him. She looked at the siblings. "Your fear… it's understandable. But screaming, running around… it doesn't help them — whoever's in the river. We need to be steady."
Vaidehi tried to nod, but the tears wouldn't stop. "I can't… I can't see them!"
Abhay knelt beside her. "I know. But if we panic, it makes the search harder. We have to… trust."
Ishanvi crouched near Aariv, wrapping an arm around him. "It's cold, I know. And it's scary. But we are together. And that counts for something."
Raghav's Burden
Raghav stood apart, jaw tight, voice barely audible. "I… I should have… said sorry to Maa this morning. I…"
Ishanvi turned to him gently. "Raghav… this isn't your fault. None of this is. Right now, we need to stay strong, together."
But he couldn't shake the weight in his chest.
Abhay glanced at him, fists clenching. He knew the feeling too well — fear, helplessness, and guilt twisting together. The water in his bottle rippled faintly, tiny arcs forming for a heartbeat before settling again.
Shared Fear, Shared Strength
The siblings huddled closer.
Ishanvi whispered to Aariv and Vivaan, stroking their hair. "Your brothers and sisters are brave. Even if we can't see them, they're fighting. They're holding on."
Abhay knelt beside Vaidehi, voice low, steady. "We'll find them. And they'll be safe. You need to believe that, for now."
The mist swirled, cold against their cheeks. The Sudarshini flowed silently, unnaturally calm, as though holding its breath with them.
Their hearts thumped together — fear mirrored in every pulse.
Moments Between Them
Alone for a heartbeat, Ishanvi looked at Abhay.
"Do you feel it too?" she whispered.
He nodded, eyes dark, trembling. "The river… it's reacting. But I can't control it. Not now. I don't even know if I should."
Her hand found his, a faint spark of warmth. "We have to calm them. If we lose control now… it won't help anyone."
He squeezed her hand, not letting go.
Even if we're scared, we'll stand together.
A Long Night Ahead
They didn't know how long they stood there, trying to console their siblings while the search continued.
The river flowed quietly, watching, patient.
Raghav still carried the guilt of the morning argument. Vaidehi trembled. Vrinda and Meera whispered prayers under their breath. Aariv and Vivaan clung to each other.
And Abhay and Ishanvi — though terrified themselves — were the anchors.
Anchors in a storm they couldn't control.