Chapter 21: chapter 21

The Sharma household was unnervingly quiet the next morning. Aarohi sat at the dining table, staring at her untouched plate of breakfast as her parents whispered in the corner. Their disappointment was palpable, hanging heavy in the air. Her mother’s occasional glances toward her felt like sharp daggers, and her father hadn’t spoken to her since the night before.

The guilt was suffocating, but beneath it was a tiny ember of defiance. For once, Aarohi had done something for herself, even if it came at the cost of her family’s approval. Yet, the thought of facing Vihaan again made her stomach twist.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her father cleared his throat, his voice cold and firm. “Get ready,” he said, not looking at her.

“Ready for what?” Aarohi asked, startled.

Her mother sighed, placing a cup of tea on the table with unnecessary force. “Vihaan and his family are coming over to talk. We need to fix this mess before it gets any worse.”

Aarohi’s heart sank. The thought of seeing Vihaan again, especially after the way she had rejected him, made her palms sweat. “But I—”

“There’s no room for arguments,” her father cut her off sharply. “You’ve embarrassed this family enough.”

She wanted to protest, to say that she wasn’t ready to face Vihaan or his icy glares, but one look at her father’s stern expression silenced her.

---

At the Malhotras’ Residence

Vihaan sat in the living room, his parents on either side of him. The tension in the air was thick as his mother, Aarti, tried to reason with him.

“Vihaan,” she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder, “I know you’re upset, but Aarohi is just a young girl. She made a mistake. You can’t hold this against her forever.”

Vihaan stared at the coffee table, his jaw clenched. “It’s not just about her mistake, Mom. She made it very clear she doesn’t want this marriage. And frankly, neither do I.”

Dev sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We’ve been over this, Vihaan. This alliance is important for both families. You don’t have to fall in love with her overnight, but you can at least give her a chance.”

“A chance?” Vihaan scoffed, finally looking up. “She couldn’t even be honest with her own family. She’s immature, impulsive, and clearly not ready for marriage.”

“She’s not perfect, Vihaan,” Aarti said, her tone firm but gentle. “But neither are you.”

Vihaan opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. His mother’s words stung because they were true. He wasn’t perfect. In fact, he had been far from it.

Dev stood up, his tone final. “We’re going to the Sharmas’, and you’re coming with us. You can sulk and brood all you want later, but for now, you will act like the man I raised you to be.”

Vihaan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t want to go, but he knew there was no point in arguing.

Aarohi sat stiffly on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as the Malhotras entered the house. Vihaan’s presence was like a cold gust of wind, chilling her to the bone. He didn’t look at her as he sat down, his expression cold and detached.

Her father began with an apology, his tone humble. “We’re deeply sorry for what happened yesterday. Aarohi was overwhelmed, and she made a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Aarti offered a kind smile. “There’s no need to apologize, Sharma ji. Aarohi is young, and it’s understandable that she felt nervous. Let’s not blow this out of proportion.”

Vihaan, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. Aarohi could feel his resentment radiating off him, and it made her stomach churn.

“Aarohi,” her mother prompted, nudging her slightly. “Say something.”

Aarohi swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry for my behavior. I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone.”

Vihaan finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “Are you apologizing because you mean it, or because your parents told you to?”

The question hung in the air like a challenge, and Aarohi felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“Vihaan,” Aarti said sharply, giving him a warning glance. “That’s enough.”

But Vihaan wasn’t done. He leaned forward slightly, his tone low but cutting. “If you don’t want this marriage, Aarohi, just say it. Don’t waste everyone’s time.”

The words felt like a slap, and Aarohi’s eyes stung with unshed tears. “I...” she began, her voice trembling. “I’m trying to fix things.”

“Fix things?” Vihaan repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You think a half-hearted apology fixes everything?”

“Vihaan!” Dev’s voice boomed, silencing him. “That’s enough.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and Aarohi felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Later that evening, Aarohi stood by the window in her room, replaying the confrontation in her mind. She knew she had made mistakes, but Vihaan’s words had cut deeper than she expected.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up, her heart sinking as she read the sender’s name: Vihaan Malhotra.

The message was brief but enough to leave her reeling:

“Let’s meet tomorrow. Alone.”

Aarohi stared at the screen, her mind racing. Why did he want to meet her? Was this his way of ending things once and for all?

Little did she know, the meeting would change everything.