Chapter 17: chapter 17

Aarohi sat on the edge of her bed, her hands twisted in her lap, her thoughts swirling around her like a storm she couldn’t control. She had never felt so alone, so weighed down by the choices she had made. The guilt was suffocating, gnawing at her every minute. Her parents were upset—disappointed in her—and Shweta, her sister, was equally silent, her eyes filled with a hurt that Aarohi couldn’t fix.

She had left the wedding. She had run away from the one thing that meant so much to her family, all because she couldn’t bear the pressure of a future she didn’t want. But now, sitting alone in her room, she realized how wrong she had been. She had hurt the people who loved her. She had embarrassed them in front of Vihaan’s family, and the weight of that made her stomach turn.

Her parents weren’t saying much, but their silence spoke volumes. They hadn’t shouted or scolded her, but she could feel their disappointment radiating through the house. They were ignoring her, keeping their distance as if to show her the gravity of what she had done.

Aarohi couldn’t bear it anymore. The silence was unbearable. She stood up and walked toward her parents' room, her heart pounding in her chest. She knocked gently, waiting for an invitation to enter. When her father called her in, she stepped inside, her face flushed with shame.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I shouldn’t have left. I... I just couldn’t handle it, but that doesn’t give me the right to disrespect all of you.”

Neelam and Rajesh exchanged a look, neither of them saying anything for a long while. Aarohi’s gaze dropped to the floor, unable to meet their eyes.

“You’ve hurt us, Aarohi,” Neelam finally said, her voice steady but filled with an undeniable sadness. “We’ve tried to give you the space to make your own choices, but this was not the way to handle things. Running away doesn’t solve anything.”

Aarohi’s heart ached, and she bit her lip to hold back tears. “I know. I just... I was so scared, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. But I see now that I should’ve just spoken up instead of running away. I was wrong.”

Rajesh sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “You’ve embarrassed us, Aarohi. This isn’t how we raised you. You could have at least stayed and faced it like an adult.”

Aarohi’s voice cracked. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just... couldn’t handle the idea of marrying someone I didn’t know. I wasn’t ready for all of this.”

Her father softened, though the disappointment still lingered. “We understand that, but there are better ways to handle it. You should’ve communicated with us instead of shutting us out.”

Aarohi nodded, wiping away a stray tear. “I’ll do better. I promise. Please don’t be angry with me anymore. I’ll make it right.”

Neelam’s expression softened as she moved toward her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not a child anymore, Aarohi. You need to face your decisions, even the tough ones. We don’t want to see you making excuses anymore. You have to grow up.”

Aarohi nodded again, her chest tight with guilt. She was determined to make things right, even if it meant facing her fears.

Later that evening, as Aarohi was sitting alone in her room, trying to come to terms with everything, she overheard her parents talking quietly in the living room. She heard her father mention something about meeting Vihaan’s family again, and her stomach dropped.

She had been dreading this moment. Her parents had already told her they would meet with Vihaan and his family again, but now, she understood it would be different. This time, it wasn’t just a formality. This time, it was her chance to make amends, to show that she wasn’t the person who had run away in fear, that she could handle herself with respect and maturity.

The next morning, Aarohi’s parents called her downstairs. Their expressions were serious, and she immediately felt a rush of nerves.

“Aarohi,” Rajesh began, his tone firm yet gentle, “Vihaan and his parents are coming over today, and this time, you need to be on your best behavior. We’re meeting them again, and you’ll need to apologize to them, to Vihaan, for your actions.”

Aarohi’s heart skipped a beat. She knew this day would come, but the weight of it felt so much heavier now. She hadn’t expected things to escalate like this, but now she had to face it head-on.

“I understand,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite the racing thoughts in her mind. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. I’ll apologize to them, to Vihaan. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Neelam nodded, though the disappointment in her eyes hadn’t fully faded. “This is your chance, Aarohi. Don’t ruin it. Show them that you can be mature, that you can face your responsibilities.”

Aarohi nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She was terrified. Terrified of facing Vihaan, terrified of his parents, of apologizing for something that felt so... irreversible. But she had no choice. It was her only chance to fix everything, to redeem herself in the eyes of her family and in her own eyes.

Later that afternoon, as Vihaan’s family arrived, Aarohi’s heart pounded in her chest. She dressed carefully, choosing a simple but elegant outfit, her hair neatly done. She didn’t want to look like someone who had run away in shame. She needed to show them that she was strong, capable, and mature.

When she stepped into the living room, she could feel the tension hanging in the air. Vihaan was already there, his expression unreadable, his gaze distant. His parents were polite, but there was a certain formality in the air that made Aarohi’s stomach churn.

Aarohi took a deep breath and stepped forward, her voice steady as she addressed Vihaan and his family. “I want to apologize for my behavior at the wedding. I was wrong to leave, and I understand how it must have upset you. I’m truly sorry for disrespecting you all. That wasn’t my intention.”

Vihaan’s gaze flickered for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. His parents, however, smiled warmly, accepting her apology with a quiet nod.

“It’s alright, dear,” Vihaan’s mother, Anjali, said kindly. “We understand that emotions can sometimes get the better of us. We appreciate your apology.”

But Aarohi could tell that Vihaan wasn’t fully convinced. His expression remained neutral, his eyes cold. She knew that it would take more than just words to fix this. It was going to take time. But for now, she had done what she could.

As the conversation moved on, Aarohi stayed quiet, her nerves still on edge, but she was relieved that she had made the first step toward making things right.