Aarohi barely made it home before breaking down completely. Tears blurred her vision as she clutched the delicate silver locket in her hand. Her heart felt heavy, her mind racing with thoughts she couldnât silence. She couldnât believe she had let herself trust him, let herself hope for something real, only to be crushed by what seemed like betrayal.
Her parents were sitting in the living room when she entered, her face pale and tear-streaked. They both stood up immediately, their expressions shifting to concern.
âAarohi, whatâs wrong?â her mother asked, rushing toward her. âAre you okay? Did something happen?â
Aarohi shook her head quickly, unwilling to meet their gaze. âIâm fine, Maa. I just need some time alone.â Her voice cracked as she spoke, and her father frowned deeply.
âYou donât look fine,â her father said, stepping closer. âTalk to us, Aarohi. Whatâs going on?â
âI donât want to talk about it!â Aarohi snapped, her voice louder than she intended. Her parents looked startled, but she didnât wait for their response. She hurried to her room, shutting and locking the door behind her.
The moment she was alone, Aarohi sank to the floor, clutching the locket tightly. Her tears came harder now, sobs wracking her body as she replayed everything over and over in her head. The pictures. Vihaanâs silence. The note.
Why did he make me believe in this relationship if he didnât care? she thought bitterly. Why did he promise to try when he was hiding so much?
The images of him smiling, blushing, and kissing someone elseâs hand haunted her. It wasnât just the picturesâit was the emotions they captured. He looked so happy, so in love. And here she was, left to pick up the pieces of her shattered trust.
Her mind refused to quiet. Every time she tried to reason it out, another wave of doubt and anger consumed her. She had wanted to believe in him, but now it felt like everything had been a cruel joke.
---
Meanwhile, Vihaan sat across from Karan in their usual spot. The dim lighting of the lounge barely illuminated his face, but the weight on his shoulders was unmistakable. He looked like a man grappling with emotions he couldnât control.
âI think sheâs back,â Vihaan muttered, his voice low and filled with unease.
Karan frowned, leaning forward. âWhat are you talking about? Whoâs back?â
Vihaan ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. âTara. The pictures Aarohi showed me⦠they were of Tara and me. Those pictures are real.â
Karanâs eyes widened slightly, but he stayed silent, waiting for Vihaan to continue.
âIt was years ago,â Vihaan said, his tone distant. âBack when I thought I was in love with her. Tara was... everything I thought I wanted. But she left, Karan. She left without a word and never looked back. I moved onâor at least I thought I did.â
âAnd now?â Karan asked cautiously.
âNow sheâs trying to ruin everything,â Vihaan said, his jaw tightening. âSheâs the one sending those pictures to Aarohi. I know it.â
âWhy didnât you tell Aarohi that?â Karan asked, his tone sharper now. âWhy didnât you explain anything?â
Vihaan looked away, guilt flashing across his face. âBecause I froze. I didnât know how to tell her. Those pictures⦠theyâre real, Karan. And I donât blame Aarohi for doubting me after seeing them.â
âBut theyâre old, right? Youâre not involved with Tara anymore.â
âOf course not!â Vihaan snapped, his frustration bubbling over. âI havenât seen or spoken to her in years. But how do I explain that to Aarohi when Taraâs playing these games? Sheâs making it look like Iâm still... still in love with her.â
Karan sighed, leaning back in his chair. âYou need to fix this, Vihaan. If you care about Aarohiâif you want this relationship to workâyou canât let Tara win. You have to be honest with Aarohi, no matter how hard it is.â
Vihaan nodded slowly, determination flickering in his eyes. âYouâre right. I have to fix this. I just hope itâs not too late.â
---
Back in her room, Aarohi lay on her bed, staring at the locket that now felt like a cruel reminder of her heartbreak. The note Vihaan had written echoed in her mind: âIâm sorry, Aarohi. I know Iâve hurt you. This is for you. Always yours.â
âAlways yours?â she whispered bitterly. âWhat a lie.â
Her mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, to believe there was some explanation she hadnât considered. But the picturesâthe raw, undeniable emotions they capturedâkept pulling her back into despair.
A knock on her door startled her, but she didnât respond. She couldnât face anyone right now. Not her parents, not her friends, and certainly not Vihaan.
As the night stretched on, one thought consumed her: If he truly cared, why didnât he fight for me? Why didnât he explain?
Little did she know, Vihaan was preparing to do exactly that.