Chapter 19: chapter 19

The silence at the dinner table that night was deafening. Aarohi sat across from her parents, their disappointment palpable in the way they avoided her gaze. Shweta’s wedding festivities had wrapped up, leaving the house unusually quiet. But for Aarohi, the quiet felt like a punishment.

She had tried all day to apologize, to mend things, but her parents’ curt replies and dismissive looks made it clear that her actions were not so easily forgiven. Even Shweta, who usually shielded her from their parents’ wrath, seemed distant.

“Papa,” Aarohi tried again, her voice hesitant. “I know I messed up, but I—”

Her father’s hand shot up, silencing her. “Enough, Aarohi. We’ve already spoken about this. What you did was inexcusable, and you’ve brought shame to this family. You should be thankful the Malhotras are still willing to give you another chance.”

Her mother, who had been silent all evening, finally spoke. “This isn’t about you anymore, Aarohi. It’s about us—our respect, our reputation. You will apologize properly to Vihaan and his family when we visit them this weekend. And this time, you will not embarrass us.”

Aarohi’s heart sank further. The thought of facing Vihaan again made her stomach twist. His cold eyes, his sharp words—they were still fresh in her mind. And now, she was expected to sit in his home, under his judgmental gaze, and somehow make things right.

“I’ll do whatever you say,” Aarohi whispered, her voice trembling.

Her father looked at her, his expression hard. “You’d better. There won’t be a third chance.”

---

The day of the visit arrived far too quickly for Aarohi’s liking. As she stood outside the Malhotras’ sprawling estate, her palms were damp with sweat. She could feel her mother’s eyes on her, a silent reminder to behave.

“Remember,” her mother said in a low voice, “no mistakes.”

Aarohi nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.

When the door opened, Aarti greeted them with her usual warmth, ushering them inside. Aarohi forced herself to smile, though her heart was pounding in her chest.

Vihaan was already there, standing near the fireplace with a glass of water in his hand. His sharp features were unreadable, but the way his gaze flicked over to her made her insides twist. He didn’t move, didn’t say a word—just stood there, watching her with that same cold intensity.

“Aarohi,” Aarti said, her tone kind but firm. “Why don’t you come sit with Vihaan for a bit? I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”

Aarohi’s feet felt like they were made of lead, but she managed to force them forward. Vihaan didn’t offer her a seat, so she perched on the edge of the sofa across from him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched on, suffocating and heavy, until Aarohi couldn’t take it anymore.

“I wanted to apologize,” she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Vihaan raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “You’ve already apologized,” he said curtly.

Her cheeks flushed. “I know, but I... I want you to know I mean it. I didn’t mean to disrespect you or your family. I just... I wasn’t thinking.”

His lips curled into a humorless smile. “Clearly.”

Aarohi flinched at the sharpness in his tone, but she forced herself to keep going. “I know I made a mistake, and I’m really sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix things.”

Vihaan leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving hers. “You think this is something you can just fix?” he asked, his voice cold. “A simple apology doesn’t erase what happened, Aarohi. You humiliated your parents, my parents, and me. Do you have any idea how that felt?”

Her throat tightened, and she shook her head, unable to speak.

“No, I don’t think you do,” he continued, his voice rising slightly. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t have run away like a coward. You would’ve stayed and faced the consequences like an adult.”

Tears welled up in Aarohi’s eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let him see how much his words hurt.

“I’m not a coward,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I made a mistake, but I’m trying to make it right.”

Vihaan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Trying isn’t enough, Aarohi. If you’re going to be part of this family, you need to understand that there’s no room for weakness or indecision. You need to grow up.”

Her breath hitched at his words. She felt like a child being scolded, and the intensity of his gaze made her want to disappear.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, her voice barely audible.

Vihaan stared at her for a moment longer before leaning back with a sigh. “Sorry doesn’t change the past,” he said, his tone softer but still distant. “But at least you’re admitting your mistakes. That’s a start.”

Before Aarohi could respond, Aarti entered the room with a warm smile. “I hope you two are getting along,” she said cheerfully.

Vihaan stood abruptly, his expression smoothing into a mask of politeness. “Of course, Mom,” he said, his tone neutral. “Aarohi and I were just having a little chat.”

Aarti beamed. “Good! Aarohi, why don’t you come help me in the kitchen for a bit?”

Aarohi nodded quickly, eager for an escape. As she followed Aarti out of the room, she could feel Vihaan’s gaze burning into her back.

---

That night, as Aarohi lay in bed, she couldn’t stop thinking about the encounter. Vihaan’s words replayed in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. She had thought apologizing would be enough, but now she realized how wrong she had been.

Vihaan didn’t just dislike her—he didn’t trust her, didn’t respect her. And somehow, that hurt more than she expected.

But beneath the hurt was something else: a spark of determination. If she was going to face him again, she needed to prove that she wasn’t the weak, indecisive girl he thought she was.

She didn’t know how, but she was going to show him—and herself—that she could be more.