Chapter 2: chapter 2

Aarohi sat by her window, staring out at the view of the bustling streets below. The noise of the city felt like a distant echo compared to the storm raging inside her mind. She hadn't been able to shake off the conversation she overheard the other evening, nor the suffocating reality that her parents were already planning her future without her consent.

She ran her fingers through her hair, the weight of it all pressing down on her chest. She had always imagined her life differently—full of freedom, laughter, and, someday, love. Love that was hers to choose, not dictated by promises made long ago.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Tanya: "You okay? You haven’t responded to my messages."

Aarohi sighed, staring at the screen for a moment before typing back: "Not really. Everything feels like it's spiraling. I’m not sure what to do anymore."

She dropped the phone on the desk and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. The thought of being forced into a marriage with someone she didn’t even know was terrifying. And the fact that her parents hadn’t even bothered to ask her how she felt about it made it all the more hurtful.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. But it didn’t offer the comfort it once did. Today, everything felt gray, like the sky was reflecting her inner turmoil.

She was jolted out of her reverie by the sound of her mother calling her from downstairs. “Aarohi! Come help me with lunch!”

She groaned, already feeling the heaviness of the day pressing down on her shoulders. With a reluctant sigh, she pushed herself out of the chair and headed downstairs.

As she walked into the kitchen, her mother looked up with a warm smile. “You’re up late today. Got everything ready for college?”

Aarohi gave a half-hearted nod, forcing a smile that felt foreign on her face. “Yeah, just getting some stuff done.”

Her mom didn’t seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. “Good. Your father said we should start preparing for the wedding. We’ll need to buy new clothes, and I’m thinking of arranging a small get-together with our relatives. Your sister will need all the help she can get.”

Aarohi’s heart sank. She wanted to be happy for Shweta, but the mention of “preparing for the wedding” felt like a cruel reminder of her own uncertain future. It was as though her family’s life was moving forward, while she was stuck in place, drowning in her thoughts.

“I can’t wait to help,” Aarohi muttered, though the words felt hollow.

Her mother smiled brightly. “I knew I could count on you. It’s so good to have family close for these things.”

Aarohi swallowed hard, the knot in her stomach tightening. “Mom, I’ve been thinking about something. About the whole marriage thing.”

Her mother paused, a slight frown crossing her face. “What do you mean? You’re not nervous about helping with the wedding, are you?”

Aarohi shook her head quickly. “No, not that. I just… I don’t think I’m ready for all this. I mean, I just started college, and you’re already planning everything.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Aarohi, we’re just helping your sister. It’s a part of our culture. You’ll understand when it’s your turn.”

Her words felt dismissive, and Aarohi’s heart sank even more. She wanted to shout that she didn’t want her turn, not in the way they imagined. But instead, she just nodded, a lump forming in her throat.

“I know, Mom. I’m just… thinking a lot, I guess.”

Her mother patted her on the back, clearly not noticing the tension in her daughter’s voice. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything.”

Aarohi walked out of the kitchen without another word, retreating to the quiet of her room. She could hear her mother humming in the kitchen, but all she felt was a cold emptiness.

She sat back down at her desk, staring at her phone again. Tanya’s message still lay there, waiting for a response. Aarohi hesitated before typing, “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do need to talk to them. But I’m scared of what might happen if I do.”

Tanya responded almost instantly: “You have to do it, Aarohi. You have a voice. Don’t let them make decisions for you.”

Aarohi bit her lip, torn between the comfort of her friend’s words and the fear that had taken root deep inside her. What if everything changed? What if her family didn’t understand?

The doorbell rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She stood up, walking towards the door, but her mind still spun with anxiety. She wasn’t sure what she was more afraid of anymore—being forced into a marriage she didn’t want or confronting her parents and shattering their expectations.

As she opened the door, her heart skipped a beat. Standing there was Shweta, smiling widely, with a bag of wedding shopping in her hands. Aarohi forced a smile, hiding the storm inside.

“Ready to help?” Shweta asked cheerfully, but Aarohi could see the sadness in her sister’s eyes.

Aarohi nodded, taking the bag from her. “Let’s get started.”