Chapter 48: chapter 47

Tara’s heels clicked against the polished floor of Vihaan’s office building as she made her way to the receptionist desk. She held her head high, exuding confidence, but beneath her calm exterior was an unsettling mix of determination and obsession.

The receptionist smiled politely. “Good afternoon, ma’am. Do you have an appointment with Mr. Malhotra?”

Tara returned the smile, though hers didn’t reach her eyes. “No, but I’m an old friend of his. I just need a few minutes. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

The receptionist hesitated but nodded. “Let me check with him. Please take a seat.”

Tara’s fingers tapped rhythmically on her purse as she waited. Her mind was racing, plotting what she’d say to Vihaan. She wasn’t here to plead or argue. She was here to remind him of their connection—to make him see that Aarohi didn’t belong in his life.

Minutes later, the receptionist returned, her expression carefully neutral. “Mr. Malhotra is available to see you now. Please follow me.”

Tara’s lips curled into a smile as she adjusted her outfit and followed the receptionist. Little did she know, Vihaan had been expecting her.

---

Vihaan stood by the window, his hands in his pockets as he stared at the bustling city below. When the door opened, he didn’t turn around immediately.

“Vihaan,” Tara said softly, her voice laced with feigned warmth.

He turned, his expression unreadable. “Tara. I wasn’t expecting you.”

She tilted her head, trying to gauge his mood. “I doubt that’s true. You always know everything, don’t you?”

Vihaan’s lips twitched, almost into a smirk, but he kept his composure. “What do you want, Tara?”

“I just wanted to talk,” she said, stepping closer. “You’ve been so distant lately. I can’t help but feel like we need closure. Don’t you?”

“Closure?” Vihaan repeated, his tone cold. “We’ve been over this before, Tara. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

Tara’s eyes flashed with frustration, but she quickly masked it. “You don’t mean that. You can’t. We had something real, Vihaan. Something special. Aarohi—”

“Aarohi,” Vihaan interrupted sharply, his tone firm, “is none of your concern.”

Tara’s smile faltered, and for a moment, her mask slipped, revealing the desperation beneath. “She doesn’t understand you like I do. She’s not right for you, Vihaan. You know that.”

Vihaan stepped closer, his gaze piercing. “What I know is that you’re crossing boundaries you shouldn’t. And I’m warning you, Tara, don’t push me.”

Tara took a shaky breath, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, so unyielding. But she wasn’t ready to back down. Not yet.

“You’ll see,” she said quietly, almost to herself. “You’ll see I’m the one who belongs with you.”

Vihaan’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, his phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at it briefly and then looked back at Tara.

“This conversation is over,” he said, his tone final. “Leave, Tara. And don’t come back.”

Tara opened her mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped her. For the first time, she felt a flicker of doubt. She turned on her heel and walked out, her mind already formulating her next move.

As the door closed behind Tara, Vihaan picked up his phone. It was a message from his private investigator: “She’s becoming more reckless. I’ll send you the footage soon.”

Vihaan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Let her be reckless,” he muttered. “She’s doing exactly what I expected.”

---

Aarohi sat in her room that evening, her books spread out in front of her as she tried to focus on her assignments. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Vihaan and their recent conversations.

For the first time, she didn’t feel the constant pressure of trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. She still had her doubts, but they didn’t feel as overwhelming as before.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Tanya: “How are you holding up? Want to talk?”

Aarohi smiled faintly. Tanya had been her rock through everything, always offering support without pushing too hard. She quickly replied: “I’m okay, Tanya. Just trying to get back to normal. Thank you for being there.”

Almost immediately, Tanya replied: “You don’t have to thank me, Aarohi. Just don’t keep things bottled up, okay? Call me anytime.”

Aarohi put her phone down, feeling a wave of gratitude. Tanya knew everything about Tara and the engagement, and Aarohi was thankful she didn’t have to explain herself. Tanya’s unwavering support gave her the strength to keep moving forward.

---

Later that night, Vihaan sat in his study, reviewing the footage his investigator had sent. It showed Tara pacing in her apartment, talking to herself, and obsessively going through old pictures and notes.

“She’s unraveling,” Karan said, watching the footage over Vihaan’s shoulder.

Vihaan nodded. “Exactly as I expected. She’s going to make a mistake soon, and when she does, I’ll be ready.”

Karan frowned. “What’s your plan, Vihaan? How far are you willing to take this?”

“As far as I need to,” Vihaan replied, his voice cold. “I won’t let her ruin Aarohi’s life—or mine. Not anymore.”

Karan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Just don’t underestimate her. She’s not just unstable—she’s obsessed. That makes her dangerous.”

Vihaan’s gaze hardened. “So am I, Karan. So am I.”