Aarohi spent the night tossing and turning, unable to shake off the message from Vihaan. His words replayed in her mind over and over: "Letâs meet tomorrow. Alone."
Why did he want to meet her? Did he plan to call off the engagement? The thought of facing him, especially after the heated confrontation, sent a shiver down her spine.
By morning, she had worked herself into a state of nervous anticipation. She debated telling her parents but decided against it. This felt like something she needed to face on her own.
Vihaan had chosen a quiet café on the outskirts of the city. When Aarohi arrived, he was already there, sitting in a corner booth with a cup of coffee in front of him. His posture was relaxed, but his expression was unreadable.
Aarohi hesitated at the entrance, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she made her way to the table.
âYouâre late,â Vihaan said, his tone flat, as she slid into the seat across from him.
âIââ Aarohi began, but he held up a hand to stop her.
âLetâs not waste time,â he said, leaning forward slightly. âI want to know what you really want.â
Aarohi blinked, startled by the directness of his question. âWhat do you mean?â
Vihaanâs eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. âYouâve made it pretty clear that you donât want this marriage. So why are you still here, going through the motions?â
Aarohi opened her mouth to respond but faltered. What did she want? She had been so consumed by guilt and the pressure to make amends that she hadnât stopped to think about her own feelings.
âIâm trying to make things right,â she said finally, her voice quiet.
Vihaan let out a bitter laugh, leaning back in his seat. âRight,â he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. âBecause forcing yourself into something you donât want is the best way to make things right.â
âIâm not forcing myself,â Aarohi said, her voice trembling. âIâm trying toââ
âTo what?â Vihaan interrupted, his voice rising slightly. âProve something? Please your parents? What about what you want, Aarohi? Or is that not even a factor in this equation?â
The intensity of his words took Aarohi by surprise, and for a moment, she was speechless. She had expected anger, but not this level of frustration.
âI donât know what I want,â she admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vihaan stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned forward again, his gaze locking onto hers. âThen figure it out,â he said, his voice low and firm. âBecause Iâm not going to stand here and let you treat this like some kind of obligation. If you donât want this marriage, just say it. But donât string me along, Aarohi. I wonât tolerate it.â
Aarohi felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
Vihaan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. âFor the record,â he said, his tone softening slightly, âI donât want this marriage either. But Iâm here because my parents believe in it, and I respect them enough to try. Can you say the same?â
His words hit her like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, she couldnât breathe. She had been so focused on her own guilt and fear that she hadnât considered what Vihaan might be going through.
âIâll think about it,â she said finally, her voice trembling.
Vihaan nodded, his expression unreadable. âGood,â he said, standing up. âBecause if youâre not sure, Iâll make the decision for you.â
With that, he walked away, leaving Aarohi alone at the table. She sat there for a long time, her mind racing.
As Aarohi made her way back home, her phone buzzed with a new message. She unlocked it, her heart sinking as she read the words:
"We need to talk. Meet me tonight at the same place. â Vihaan"
Aarohiâs hands trembled as she stared at the screen. What else could he possibly have to say? Whatever it was, she had a sinking feeling it wasnât going to be good.
Little did she know, the conversation waiting for her that night would shatter her world in ways she hadnât anticipated.