The train came to a stop after about an hour of travel. Aarohi sighed, pulling out her earbuds and ending the music she had been listening to. For the past hour, she had been lost in the scenery outside her window, letting her thoughts drift with each passing landscape. She checked the time on her phone and realized she hadn't eaten breakfast.
Peering out the window, she scanned the platform for something to eat, but her options looked limited-mainly vendors selling tea and samosas. She scrunched her nose, not quite in the mood for samosas so early. As she debated what to do, she noticed the man sitting across from her watching her.
She turned to him and asked, "What are you looking at?"
The man gave a small, playful smile and said softly, "You."
Aarohi felt her cheeks warm slightly and quickly cleared her throat. "Huh? What do you mean?"
He chuckled, then corrected himself. "I just meant... I saw you looking around. Were you searching for something?"
"Oh, yeah," Aarohi replied, glancing back at the platform, "I was hoping to find something to eat, but it seems like samosas are the only option, and I'm not a fan of station samosas."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Not a fan of samosas? That's surprising."
"Oh, no," Aarohi clarified, "I love samosas! But only the ones from home, you know? There's a shop near my house that makes the best samosas, but the ones at stations... not so much."
She paused, realizing she'd just shared a little too much with a stranger. But he seemed genuinely interested, nodding as if taking mental notes.
"So, would you like some chips, or maybe a coffee?" he offered. "I could get them for you if you want."
Aarohi hesitated, "Well, yeah, but aren't the shops a bit far? You might miss the train."
The man shook his head, smiling confidently. "Don't worry about that. I'm also a bit hungry, and now I have a reason to go. Wait here-I'll be right back."
He stood up and stepped into the aisle. Just as he passed by Aarohi's window, he glanced over, smirking, and gave her a quick, playful wink before heading off to find something to eat.
After a while, Aarohi leaned back in her seat, feeling a bit amused and surprised by this stranger's sudden eagerness to help. She hadn't expected anyone, especially a stranger, to take such interest in her. She thought to herself, Why am I even letting him go get food for me? But there was something so confident and effortless in his manner that she couldn't help but feel at ease.
As she waited, Aarohi glanced around the train car, noticing other passengers settling in with their snacks or reading books. She pulled out her phone to check her notifications but found herself absentmindedly watching out the window again. The sight of people moving along the platform, the hum of distant chatter, and the sound of vendors calling out added to the train's lively atmosphere.
Just then, she saw him returning with a small bag in one hand and two cups of coffee in the other
As Aarohi took the packet of snacks and coffee from him, she offered a grateful smile. "Thank you so much. How much did it cost? I'll pay you back."
He shook his head dismissively. "It's nothing, don't worry. It's on me."
Aarohi tried to insist, but he waved her off with a warm grin. Realizing he wouldn't take no for an answer, she said, "Alright, thank you again."
The train started moving again, and Aarohi was about to plug her earphones back in when she thought she heard the man muttering something. She glanced up. "Did you say something?"
He shook his head quickly, though she could see the faintest blush dust his cheeks. "No... I mean, not really."
In truth, he'd mumbled to himself, "Just say something before she gets lost in her music again..."
"Oh, okay," Aarohi said, chuckling. "Sorry, I thought you were talking to me."
After a pause, he looked over with a curious smile. "So, what's your name?"
"Oh, I'm Aarohi," she replied, setting her earphones aside. "And you?"
He looked thoughtful, almost as if deciding how much he wanted to share. "I'm Avi"
"Nice to meet you," she said, smiling. "Are you headed home too, or just traveling for something?"
"Home, yeah. It's a holiday from college, so I'm also headed back," he said with a gentle grin. "But... I'm also meeting someone special."
Aarohi laughed, a hint of teasing in her voice. "Oh, really? Well, best of luck with that. Meeting someone for the first time, huh?"
"Yeah," Avi replied, looking a bit nervous but smiling. "I just hope she likes me."
Aarohi chuckled reassuringly. "Don't worry-you seem kind, funny, and you are handsome too . I think she'll like you."
She thinks he's handsome ð«
Avi turned to Aarohi with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, you think I'm handsome?"
Aarohi rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, I guess you're... quite good-looking. I'm pretty sure she'll definitely like you."
Avi raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Wait a second-are you flirting with me?"
Aarohi's face turned pink as she quickly waved her hands in denial. "No, no! That's not it at all. I'm just... giving honest feedback!"
Avi chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Well, if that was your 'honest feedback,' I might need to hear it more often. My confidence just went up ten levels."
Aarohi laughed, shaking her head. "Don't let it get to your head. You'll start thinking you're a movie star next."
"Who knows? With compliments like that, maybe I'll start signing autographs," Avi joked.
They both start laughing....
Avi grinned, his eyes softening. "Thank you, Aarohi. That really helps."
As the train rolled to a stop at the station, Aarohi and Avi-exchanged warm smiles.
As the train halted at another station, Aarohi noticed a woman stepping into the compartment, holding a little child, barely two years old. The woman was moving down the aisle, softly asking for money. Some passengers shooed her away impatiently, while a few handed her small bits of food. When she reached Aarohi's seat, Aarohi realized she had no food to offer, so she quietly pulled out a hundred-rupee note and handed it to the woman.
"Have you eaten anything?" Aarohi asked gently.
The woman shook her head, looking down. Aarohi hesitated for a moment, then took out two more five-hundred-rupee notes, pressing them into the woman's hand. "Get yourself something to eat, and feed your little one too."
The woman's face lit up with gratitude as she clutched the money. "God bless you, beta," she murmured, before moving on with a small, relieved smile.
Avi, who had been observing the whole exchange, looked at Aarohi with raised eyebrows. "You know... she might've been lying. What if she's just asking for money without actually needing it?"
Aarohi smiled thoughtfully. "Maybe she was. But think about it-why would someone lie like that? Avi, if I asked you to go and pretend you hadn't eaten, to beg for money from strangers, would you?"
Avi shook his head. "No, of course not. I already have money, I can buy my own food."
"Exactly," Aarohi said, nodding. "You have money, so you don't need to. But even if someone's lying, they're likely doing it because they lack the basics we take for granted. A little help from us won't make us poorer, but it could mean a lot to them."
Avi looked at her with new admiration. "Wow, I never thought about it like that. You really are thoughtful."
â¨ï¸
"It was great meeting you, Avi," Aarohi said, gathering her bag. "Here's my stop, so I guess this is it. Take care."
"Bye, Aarohi," he replied with a wink, emphasizing.
With a final smile, she stepped out of the train, watching as he waved from his seat before the doors closed. Stepping onto the platform, Aarohi spotted her father and younger brother waiting for her just outside the station. A bright smile spread across her face as she hurried toward them. Her brother immediately hugged her, followed by a warm embrace from her father.
"You look great, beta," her father remarked, scanning her face. "Usually, when you come home from college, you look a bit worn out, like you've lost weight. But this time, you look... healthier."
Aarohi pouted playfully. "Papa, are you saying I've gained weight?"
He chuckled. "No, no, I'm saying you look wonderful."
Rolling her eyes but smiling, she replied, "Alright, alright. Let's get going."
They climbed into the car, her father mentioning that her mother was eagerly waiting for her at home. When they arrived, her mother greeted her with a tight, welcoming hug and ushered everyone to the dining table, which was laden with Aarohi's favorite dishes. They enjoyed a hearty meal together, laughing and catching up. After lunch, Aarohi spent some quality time with her younger brother, teasing him and sharing stories from college.
Where's grandma , aarohi asked
She went to meet his brother , her mother replied.
Ohh okay...
Meanwhile, Aarohi's parents were watching from a distance. Her mother turned to her father, smiling thoughtfully. "Look at her. Doesn't she seem... happier this time? It's like we have our old Aarohi back. Playful, carefree... it's been so long since I've seen her like this."
Her father nodded, a bit of pride in his eyes. "I noticed that too. Maybe something at college has changed for her."
"Or maybe it's because of
Dr. Avneesh," her mother replied, hinting with a hopeful smile. "They've been talking on phone, you know. I think she might actually say yes this time."
Her father gave a thoughtful sigh. "That could be. But let's not push her. If she chooses him, it should be her decision."
Her mother sighed but nodded. "Yes, yes. But still, this time I'll make sure of it"
â¨ï¸
That evening after dinner, Aarohi's mom asked her brother to head to his room. Aarohi started to get up as well, but her mother stopped her.
"What is it, Ma?" Aarohi asked, sitting back down.
Her mother hesitated before saying, "Beta, I don't know what you're thinking about Avinash, but I've been talking to him for the last few weeks. He told me you two talk often, and he thinks things are going well."
"Please, Ma. I'm not in the mood," Aarohi replied, starting to stand up again.
"Sit back, I said," her mother insisted, casting a quick glance at Aarohi's father, who just gave her a look as if to say he couldn't interfere this time.
With a sigh, Aarohi sat back down, crossing her arms.
Her mother continued, "Avinash's parents have already seen your photo, and they liked you. They want to meet you tomorrow. And Avinash is in the city too, so he'll be there. Now, please be ready for lunch, and wear something nice. I'll lay out a saree for you to wear."
Aarohi sighed in resignation and left the room with a frown. Once in her room, she flopped onto her bed with a deep sigh, already regretting coming home. Her phone buzzed, and she quickly picked it up, hoping it was her best friend. Instead, it was Avinash.
"Hello," she answered, a bit curtly.
A warm voice came through. "Hello, Ji. So, you made it home?"
Aarohi rolled her eyes. "I'm sure your 'secret spy'-aka my mother-has already informed you," she replied, her tone dry.
Avinash laughed. "She did. But I just wanted to hear it from you directly."
"So, what's the real reason for your call?" Aarohi asked, her eyebrow raised even though he couldn't see her.
"Well, me and my family are coming tomorrow to see you. Just wanted to give you a heads-up."
"Ah, yes. Because nothing says 'welcome home' like a family meeting," Aarohi said sarcastically. "I had plans with my friends tomorrow, but thanks to you, they're canceled."
"Oh! Sorry about that," he replied, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I didn't know. We could reschedule if you want?"
"Sure, if you want my mother to kill me," she retorted, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
" no ...i was just suggesting.....
"No, seriously," she said with a sigh, "Just come tomorrow, meet me, reject me, and leave, okay? Then I can go back to normal."
"Reject you?" Avinash sounded confused, then amused. "Why would I do that?"
"Because I'm telling you to," Aarohi replied, half-defeated. "You look like a kind person, but first, let me warn you-I'm not interested. I'm rude, stubborn, and, according to my mother, I should act kind in front of you. So that's exactly what I'll do: act. But don't get fooled."
Avinash chuckled softly. "Rude, stubborn-I think I can handle that."
With a huff, Aarohi hung up, muttering to herself about his persistence.
After Avinash hung up, Aarohi's phone rang again. Assuming it was him calling back, she declined the call. But it rang once more, and this time, irritated, she picked it up.
"Can't you understand? I don't want to talk to you!" she snapped.
There was a pause before a familiar voice responded. "Aaruh? Why don't you want to talk to me?"
Startled, Aarohi glanced at the screen. It was Rudra. "Oh, sorry! I thought it was... someone else. I didn't even look," she stammered. "Anyway, look who finally has time to call me!"
Rudra chuckled. "Look who forgot about me the minute she got there," he teased. "I figured I'd better remind you that you have a boyfriend who misses you."
Aarohi smiled. "Oh really?"
"Yes, Dr. Aarohi. Now you remember?" Rudra replied.
Aarohi rolled her eyes playfully. "I never forgot you, okay."
"Yeah? Then let's do a video call. I haven't seen you in ages."
"Alright, alright," she said, accepting the call.
As the screen lit up, Aarohi lay on her bed, stomach down, with her face close to the phone. Rudra looked at her intently, as if he were trying to memorize every detail. She noticed he looked a bit thinner, and his skin was darker from hours under the sun.
"Are you okay?" she asked, studying his face. "You look a bit thinner. And darker too. Are you even eating properly?"
Rudra laughed. "So now you're worried about my color?"
"Well, I can't help it. You look like you've been through the wringer."
"And yet, I'm still the most handsome guy you know," he said with a smirk.
Aarohi laughed, "Handsome? You're starting to look more like a monkey."
"Really? A monkey, huh?" Rudra feigned offense. "Say it again, I dare you."
She giggled, "Monkey!"
He paused, just looking at her, captivated by her laughter and bright eyes.
"Hello, where did you go?" Aarohi asked.
Rudra smiled softly. "In you, since forever."
Aarohi blushed, fidgeting slightly under his gaze. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" he teased.
"You know exactly what I mean," she replied, rolling her eyes with a shy smile.
"So," Rudrasaid, shifting the conversation, "how's it been with your family?"
Aarohi shrugged, "It's nice... I love being around them." She hesitated, almost mentioning how she regretted coming, but didn't want to bring up her mom's marriage plans or Avinash. She knew she'd manage it on her own and didn't want to distract Rudra from his training.
Just then, a light knock came from her door. "Wait a minute," she whispered to Rudra, putting the phone on the bed.
Aarohi opened the door to see her father. "What is it, Papa?" she asked.
"Can we talk? I'm waiting for you in the hall," he replied.
"Don't tell me Ma is calling me again," Aarohi groaned, ready for another round of marriage talk.
Her father shook his head with a soft smile. "No, she's already asleep. This is just a father-daughter talk."
Aarohi nodded, "Alright, let's go." She glanced back at her phone, gave Ruth a quick smile, and followed her father out into the hall.
After about 20 minutes of talking casually with her father, Aarohi could feel a shift in his tone as he finally brought up the reason for their late-night chat.
"Aarohi," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I know your mother can seem like she's rushing things, especially with all this talk about meeting Avinash's family. But, you know, she's just worried about you... and wants the best for you."
He paused, his gaze soft but earnest. "We both just want to see you happy, beta.
Aarohi looked down, her fingers fidgeting as guilt crept onto her face. She knew exactly what he was implying-that maybe, just maybe, she could consider taking this seriously.
Her mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions, but all she managed to say was a quiet, "Okay."
Her father gave her a small, understanding smile and patted her shoulder before heading back to his room, leaving her alone to think about his words.
When Aarohi wasn't in her room, her younger brother, Aman, decided to stop by to chat with her. Finding her room empty, he spotted her phone lying on the bed. Curiosity got the better of him, so he picked it up and saw an ongoing video call. A boy's face filled the screen.
"Who are you?" Aman asked, narrowing his eyes.
On the other side, Rudra, who had assumed Aarohi was back, looked surprised. "Umm, who are you?"
Aman tilted his head, still suspicious. "What are you doing on my sister's phone at this hour?"
Rudra chuckled, realizing he was speaking to Aarohi's little brother. "I could ask the same. Aren't you too young to be snooping through your sister's stuff?"
Aman crossed his arms. "I'm in 10th grade, and that's not an answer. Are you... Avinash?" he asked, unsure, since he hadn't met him yet.
Rudra's brow furrowed at the mention of Avinash. "No, I'm Rudra. But who's this Avinash?"
Aman hesitated, glancing at the phone where the name "Rudra" was saved with a heart emoji. "Well... I don't know Avinash, but I heard he's coming tomorrow to see my sister," he said with a smirk, as if he were delivering some important intel.
Rudra's expression grew serious. "For what? Why is he coming to see your sister?"
Aman laughed, flipping Rudra's own words back at him. "Aren't you old enough to figure that out?"
Rudra clenched his jaw, but Aman quickly followed up. "Anyway, whoever you are, stay away from my sister, okay?" With that, Aman ended the call, set the phone down, and left the room, grinning at his small victory over the mysterious Rudra.
Aarohi stepped back into her room and froze. "Oh God... Rudra!" She rushed to her bed, grabbed her phone, only to find the call had already ended. "Ugh, I hate this," she muttered, quickly redialing. But there was no response-his data was off. She switched to a voice call, and after a few rings, he picked up in silence.
"Hello? Hello? Rudra, are you there?" Aarohi's voice was soft but anxious.
A cold voice replied, "Yeah, I can hear you."
She instantly recognized the tone. He was upset. Her heart sank, thinking he was probably upset because she'd left him without a word. "Rudra, I'm really sorry. My father came by, and I just forgot to tell you. I got back as soon as I could to call you," she said, her voice apologetic.
"Right," he replied flatly.
"Have u had you dinner," she said, trying to lighten the mood. But his response was sharp.
"Why do you care if I did or not?"
Aarohi frowned, sensing something deeper. "What's with this attitude? I know I left the call suddenly, but I had to talk to my father. It's not like I wanted to ignore you."
Rudra's laugh was hollow. "Oh really? You went to talk to your father, huh? I thought maybe you went to see Avinash."
Her heart skipped. How did he know? She tried to play innocent. "What? I don't know what you're talking about."
Rudra's voice hardened. "Do you think I'm a fool, Aarohi? You're preparing to meet some guy tomorrow, aren't you? Isn't that why you're there?"
Aarohi could feel the weight of his words. He knew, somehow, everything.
She took a deep breath. "Rudra, please listen. I had no idea they'd set up a meeting tomorrow. My mom invited them-she didn't even tell me until now. And, of course, I'm going to say no."
"Really? And you didn't know about any of this before now, right? Just a complete surprise?" His sarcasm was biting.
Her silence said it all.
"So, you knew, Aarohi. You knew your family was arranging this, planning a marriage with... with whoever this fucking guy is," Rudra's voice cracked, the hurt leaking through. "How could you go along with this?"
"Don't shout, okay?" she snapped back. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd react like this. It's not a big deal. This has been happening for years, Rudra"
"But we weren't together then!" he retorted. "Now, we're... I thought we were together. Shouldn't that mean you'd at least inform me? But no, you kept it to yourself. So, how is he? Is he more handsome than me? What does he do? Let me guess-a doctor? Perfect for you, right?" His voice was thick with frustration and jealousy.
"Stop it, Rudra!" Aarohi's voice was pleading now. "I haven't seen him, and I don't care who he is. You're the one I-"
But Rudra was beyond listening. His possessiveness, jealousy-they always flared up, especially around other men. But this... this was about someone coming to marry her. He couldn't handle it.
Rudra's tone shifted, his voice rising with raw, bitter frustration. "You know what, Aarohi? Just go and meet that damn doctor! Go see if he's everything you want, everything your family wants for you!" His words were laced with anger, jealousy, and betrayal. "Maybe he's perfect, a doctor-what a match! Who cares if I'm here, right? Who cares if I'm the one who actually loves you? No, you'd rather keep secrets, hide things, and let them throw you at some stranger without a second thought!"
Aarohi opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off, his voice cracking with hurt.
"And don't you dare pretend this is normal, that this has 'always happened.' Not while we're together. I thought you loved me. Or was that just some temporary thing?"
His breathing was heavy, each word carrying the weight of every fear he'd kept inside.
With that, he ended the call, leaving Aarohi stunned, the sound of his pain and anger still echoing in her ears.
*******
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