The hall was noisy with students discussing their answers as Aarohi handed in her last paper. She walked out of the examination hall, her head spinning. She knew the results wouldnât be good. Despite trying her best, the past few weeks had been a whirlwind of stress, wedding preparations, and family obligations. Her heart sank as she thought about her gradesâit wasnât the performance she wanted.
By the time she reached home, her mood had plummeted. She was greeted with an all-too-familiar sight: her mother sitting in the living room with fabric samples and a wedding planner open on her lap.
âAarohi, youâre back!â her mother said brightly. âCome here, we need to finalize these designs. Weâre running out of time.â
Aarohi froze in place, her bag slipping off her shoulder. âMaa, I just got back from my exam. Can we not do this right now?â she said, her voice already tinged with frustration.
Her mother didnât look up. âAarohi, these things canât wait. The wedding is in a few months, and weâre behind schedule.â
The tension that had been building for weeks finally snapped. âMaa, Iâm tired!â Aarohi burst out. âDo you even care how Iâm feeling? Iâve been juggling exams, college, and this wedding for weeks now, and I canât do it anymore. I just need a break!â
Her mother looked stunned, her face tightening. âAarohi, this wedding is important. You canât just push it aside because youâre overwhelmed. Everyone is counting on you.â
âEveryoneâs counting on me, but no one cares how Iâm feeling!â Aarohiâs voice cracked. âDo you even realize how much pressure Iâm under? I canât do this.â
Before her mother could respond, Aarohi turned and stormed upstairs to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She sank onto her bed, burying her face in her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt like the walls were closing in on her, the weight of everything too much to bear. She let herself cry, her body trembling with the release of emotions she had been holding back for so long.
---
After some time, as Aarohiâs sobs began to quiet, her phone buzzed on the bedside table. Wiping her eyes, she reached for it and saw a message from Vihaan.
Vihaan: "Hey, can we meet? I need to talk to you."
She stared at the screen, hesitating. She wasnât in the mood to talk to anyone, but something in his message made her pause. Finally, she replied:
Aarohi: "Okay. Where?"
His response came quickly:
Vihaan: "Iâll pick you up in an hour."
---
When Vihaan arrived, Aarohi climbed into the car, her face still puffy from crying. He glanced at her and frowned. âRough day?â he asked gently.
âYou have no idea,â she muttered, staring out of the window.
Vihaan didnât press her for details. Instead, he drove in silence, taking her to a quiet café on the outskirts of the city. They sat in a corner booth, away from the noise, and he ordered her favorite drink without asking.
As they waited for their order, Vihaan leaned forward. âYour parents have been calling me,â he said. âTheyâre worried about your behavior. Whatâs going on?â
Aarohi sighed, running a hand through her hair. âIâm just⦠overwhelmed, Vihaan. The exams, the weddingâitâs all too much. I feel like I canât breathe. Everyone expects me to be excited and perfect, but Iâm not. I need a break.â
Vihaan listened quietly, his gaze steady. âI get it,â he said after a moment. âIâve been feeling the same way. The wedding planning has taken over everything, and I hate seeing you like this.â
Their drinks arrived, and Aarohi took a sip, the warmth soothing her frazzled nerves. For the first time in days, she felt like she could talk without being judged.
âI canât keep going like this,â she said softly. âItâs not fair to either of us.â
Vihaan reached across the table and took her hand. âThen letâs not,â he said firmly. âWeâll talk to our families. Tell them we need to slow down. The wedding is six months awayâwe donât have to plan every detail right now. We need space to focus on ourselves too.â
Aarohi looked at him, her eyes filling with relief. âDo you think theyâll agree?â
âThey will,â Vihaan said confidently. âTheyâre excited, but they love us. If we explain how weâre feeling, theyâll understand.â
---
The next day, Aarohi and Vihaan sat down with their families and laid everything out. They explained how the pressure was affecting them and asked for more time and less intensity in the planning process. After some initial resistance, their families eventually agreed, realizing how much strain they had been under.
With the pressure eased, Aarohi finally felt like she could breathe again. She threw herself back into her studies, determined to improve her grades and regain her confidence. Vihaan, too, returned to work, immersing himself in his projects with a renewed sense of focus.