Chapter 47: chapter 46

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains as Aarohi sat on her bed, brushing her hair with slow, deliberate strokes. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t feel the heavy weight of stress pressing down on her chest. The conversation with Vihaan the night before had helped clear some of her doubts. She wasn’t completely at ease—far from it—but at least now she could breathe.

Glancing at the clock, she realized she had to leave for college soon. Aarohi picked out a simple outfit—a light blue kurta paired with white leggings—and got ready quickly. As she adjusted her dupatta in front of the mirror, she couldn’t help but think about everything that had happened in the past few weeks. Tara’s cryptic messages and constant games still lingered in her mind, but she was determined not to let them control her life anymore.

Downstairs, the familiar hum of her family’s chatter greeted her. Shweta sat scrolling through her phone, while her parents were deep in a discussion about the neighbor’s wedding plans. Aarohi slipped into a chair and poured herself a cup of tea.

Her mom glanced at her. “You’re looking better today. Feeling less stressed?”

Aarohi nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, I think I’m finally catching up on everything. College has been hectic, but it’s manageable now.”

Shweta raised an eyebrow. “You sure it’s just college? You’ve been acting so... off lately.”

“I’m fine, really,” Aarohi insisted, taking a sip of tea to avoid further probing. “It’s just been a busy few weeks.”

Her father chimed in. “If there’s anything bothering you, beta, you can talk to us.”

Aarohi’s grip on her cup tightened slightly. She wanted to tell them everything—the stress, the emotional toll, and Tara’s constant interference—but she didn’t want them to worry. Instead, she plastered on a reassuring smile. “Of course, Papa. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

She finished her tea quickly and grabbed her bag. “I should get going. Don’t want to be late for college.”

Her mom called after her as she headed out the door, “Take care of yourself, beta!”

---

At college, Aarohi felt a subtle shift in her mood. Classes flowed smoothly, and she even laughed at a classmate’s joke. By lunchtime, she realized how much she had missed feeling normal. It was a small but significant victory.

But her peace was fleeting.

---

Tara sat in her dimly lit apartment, her eyes glued to the photograph of Vihaan saved on her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen, tracing his face as a twisted smile curled her lips.

“He was mine,” she whispered, her voice a mix of longing and obsession. “He still is. Aarohi doesn’t deserve him.”

Her mind replayed their brief encounter at the café the other day. The cold look in Vihaan’s eyes had stung, but she convinced herself it wasn’t real. Aarohi must have influenced him, she reasoned.

Tara pushed away her doubts and focused on the pictures she had saved—moments from her past with Vihaan. She clicked on one where they were smiling together, and her manic smile deepened.

“I need to remind him of what we had,” she murmured. “He’s just confused. I’ll bring him back to me.”

Her phone buzzed suddenly, pulling her out of her thoughts. The message was from a mutual acquaintance of hers and Vihaan’s: “He’s keeping an eye on you. Be careful.”

Tara froze, her smile faltering. A flicker of paranoia crept into her expression. “Oh, Vihaan,” she whispered, regaining her composure. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? But you don’t know what I’m capable of.”

She stood abruptly and opened a drawer, pulling out a box filled with old notes and trinkets from her time with Vihaan. One note, in particular, caught her attention. It was something he had written to her during their brief relationship. As she held it in her hand, a glimmer of determination returned to her eyes.

“This isn’t over,” she said softly, almost to herself. “Not until I say it is.”

---

Meanwhile, Vihaan leaned back in his office chair, his laptop open to a set of surveillance updates. The private investigator he had hired had been thorough, sending detailed reports of Tara’s recent activities.

“She’s making her move,” Vihaan murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Good. Let her.”

Across from him, Karan frowned. “You’re sure this is the right way to handle her? Tara’s not exactly... stable.”

Vihaan’s expression hardened. “She’s crossed too many lines, Karan. I’ve given her chances, but she keeps pushing. I won’t let her mess with Aarohi or me anymore.”

Karan leaned back, arms crossed. “You’ve got everything planned, then?”

“Every step,” Vihaan said confidently. “I know how she thinks, and I’m two steps ahead. This time, she’s walking straight into her own trap.”

Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from the investigator: “Tara’s on the move. Heading toward your office.”

Vihaan’s smirk widened. “Perfect timing. Let her come. It’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for.”

---

Later that evening, Aarohi returned home, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Her time at college had given her some much-needed distraction, and though the thought of Tara still loomed, it didn’t weigh her down as much.

She sat on her bed and checked her phone, smiling when she saw a message from Vihaan.

Vihaan: Hope your day went well. Call me when you’re free.

She quickly replied: “It was good. I’ll call you in a bit.”

As she set her phone down, a strange sense of calm settled over her. Things weren’t perfect, but for the first time, she felt like she could handle whatever came next.

But somewhere in the city, Tara was making her move, unaware that Vihaan had already anticipated her next steps and was waiting for her to fall into the trap he had set.