The next day, Aarohi woke up in the morning, her heart feeling heavier than usual. The first thing she did was pick up her phone from the side table to check if Rudra had called or messaged her. But there was nothing. Not a single call, not a single message. She had even messaged him last night, pleading for a chance to explain, but he had seen them all and left them unanswered. Her chest tightened, and with a sigh, she put the phone back on the side table, turned over, and closed her eyes, hoping to escape the ache by sleeping a little longer.
Some time later, Aarohi was stirred awake by her mother's soft, sweet voice. "Wake up, beta," her mom said gently, stroking her arm. Aarohi slowly opened her eyes, her grogginess mixing with the tension from the previous night.
Her mother smiled warmly. "Go get ready, breakfast is ready. And after that, we'll decide what you're going to wear today. Avinash's parents will be here soon."
The mention of Avinash's name sent a pang through Aarohi. She nodded absentmindedly, her mind racing with thoughts of Rudra and the storm she knew awaited her later that day.
After breakfast with her family, Aarohi's father left with her brother to the market to get something for the guests. Meanwhile, Aarohi's mother led her to her room, where she opened the wardrobe, pulled out a few sarees, and placed them neatly on the bed.
"These are brand new," her mother said with a warm smile. "I bought them last month and haven't worn them even once. I think they'll all look great on you. Go ahead, choose one."
Aarohi let out a frustrated sigh. "Finally, you let me choose something," she muttered. "You've already decided everything else."
Her mother frowned slightly but replied in a calm tone, "Aarohi, I'm just concerned about you. That's all."
Knowing that arguing further would only escalate things, Aarohi bit her tongue. Without even glancing at the sarees, she grabbed one off the bed and said curtly, "I'll wear this," before walking out of the room.
Once in her room, Aarohi tossed the saree onto her bed and slumped down beside it. Her mind was swirling with thoughts of Rudra. She grabbed her phone and dialed his number, her heart pounding with hope. But once again, he didn't answer.
It was almost afternoon, and Aarohi's mother had told her multiple times to get ready. Reluctantly, Aarohi finally got up and dressed, but her unhappiness was evident. Two reasons weighed heavily on her: she didn't want to meet the guests, and Rudra's silence was eating her alive. Still, she couldn't bring herself to disobey her mother, so she complied half-heartedly. She draped the saree, but without care or precision-it was just for the sake of it.
Feeling restless, Aarohi decided to call Vicky. When he picked up, his familiar playful tone greeted her, "Oh hello, Aarohi! To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"
Aarohi hesitated for a moment before replying, "Hi, Vicky. It's not anything important. I just... I've been trying to reach Rudra, but he's not answering. Do you know where he is?"
Vicky paused briefly before answering, "Right now, I'm having lunch, and honestly, I don't know where he is. But he's been acting a little off today-upset about something. He didn't even eat breakfast and hasn't touched lunch either."
Aarohi's heart sank a little at this. "Oh," she said softly. "Could you... could you tell him to call me when you see him?"
"Sure," Vicky said, his tone now more serious. "I'll let him know."
Aarohi was sitting in her room, scrolling through her phone, still frustrated. Just then, her younger brother, Aman, walked in casually, humming a tune.
Aarohi: (glaring at him) "Aman! Why the hell did you touch my phone last night? Who told you to do that?"
Aman: (pretending innocence) "I didn't touch it!"
Aarohi: "Don't lie! I know you did. Why did you even touch it?"
Aman: (hesitant) "I thought... um... there was someone on the call. I thought it was Avinash, so I-"
Aarohi: (cutting him off, frustrated) "What?! You told him everything? Are you serious? What the hell, Aman!"
Aman: (grinning mischievously) "By the way, who is he? Let me think... oh, right! Rudra! Who is he, huh?"
Aarohi: (avoiding his gaze) "He's just a friend."
Aman: (mocking) "Oh, really? Just a friend? Then why did he sound so upset when I told him about Avinash?"
Aarohi's patience snapped. She grabbed Aman's hand tightly, glaring at him.
Aarohi: "You're just a kid, okay? Stop trying to act smart!"
Aman: (dramatically shouting) "Mama! Mama! She's hurting me!"
Their mom hurried into the room, looking concerned.
Mom: "What's happening here? Why are you shouting, Aman?"
Aman: (running out of the room) "She's beating me!"
Mom: (turning to Aarohi) "Why are you angry at him? He's just a kid!"
Aarohi: (frustrated) "He's not a kid, Mama! When will he grow up?"
Mom: (sighing) "Just leave it, Aarohi. And what is this? Are you ready?"
Aarohi: (grumbling) "Yes, I'm ready."
Mom: (scolding) "Ready? You didn't even drape the saree properly! Come here."
Aarohi's mom fixed the saree neatly, styled her hair, added some makeup, and slipped bangles onto her wrists.
Mom: (guiding Aarohi) "Now listen carefully. When the guests come, you need to-"
Aarohi tuned her out, staring blankly at the mirror, feeling trapped but saying nothing.
The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. Aarohi's father stood up and opened the door, welcoming the much-anticipated guests of the day. Aarohi's mother quickly joined him, both wearing polite smiles as they greeted Avinash's parents and younger sister.
The guests stepped inside, exchanging pleasantries with Aarohi's parents before settling in the living room. Aarohi, still in her room, could hear snippets of their conversation floating through the walls. Her father, curious, eventually asked, "Your son isn't with you?"
Avinash's father responded with a polite smile, "Actually, he was on his way, but something urgent came up at the last minute. He had to handle it, so he'll come by another day."
The conversation continued for a while, with polite chatter filling the room. Then, Avinash's mother turned to Aarohi's mother and said warmly, "Shall we meet Aarohi now?"
Aarohi's mom nodded, heading to Aarohi's room. She opened the door, finding Aarohi seated stiffly. "Come on, Aarohi," she said, a mixture of encouragement and command in her voice. "And remember, keep your eyes down. Don't forget." Aarohi gave a frustrated sigh but obeyed, following her mother to the living room.
As Aarohi entered, she greeted the guests softly, her gaze fixed downward as instructed. She sat quietly, stealing glances only when no one was looking.
Amid the formalities, Avinash's mother handed a box of sweets to Aarohi's mom. "This is just a small token for your family," she said with a warm smile.
Avinash's younger sister, Ankita, suddenly piped up, "Mama, did you forget what Bhai asked us to bring?"
"Oh yes!" Avinash's mother exclaimed, reaching for a packet in her bag. She handed it to Aarohi's mother, who looked puzzled. "What's this?" she asked.
With a chuckle, Avinash's mother replied, "Oh, it's nothing fancy. Just some samosas. My son insisted we bring these for you and Aarohi."
Aarohi's eyes flicked to the packet, her heart skipping a beat. The name of her favorite samosa shop, the one near her house, was printed clearly on the packet. She stared at it, her mind racing, shocked but silent. Did Avinash really know? Or was it just a coincidence?
After finishing the initial conversations, everyone moved to the dining table for lunch. Aarohi, staying quiet, took on the task of serving food to everyone. As she moved around the table, Avinash's mother looked up and said kindly, "Beta, please sit with us and have lunch too. There's no need to serve us like this."
Aarohi hesitated. She wasn't in the mood to eat but nodded reluctantly, knowing she couldn't refuse outright. She quietly sat down, taking small bites, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.
Once lunch was over, Avinash's mother smiled warmly and said, "We really like Aarohi. She's such a sweet and well-mannered girl. And to be honest, my son has liked her ever since he saw her photo. So, from our side, it's a yes to this relationship."
Aarohi felt her chest tighten as all eyes subtly turned toward her. She kept her gaze fixed on her lap, her hands fidgeting nervously under the table.
Sensing her discomfort, Aarohi's father cleared his throat and spoke firmly yet politely, "Mehenji, we are grateful for your kind words and interest, but please allow us some time to consider. We'll let you know our decision soon."
Avinash's parents nodded understandingly, standing up to leave. After exchanging final pleasantries and greetings, they departed, leaving Aarohi feeling a mix of relief and dread as the house settled back into quiet.
After the guests left, Aarohi's mother turned to her father with a puzzled expression. "Why did you say we need time? It's obviously a yes from her side too! What a great family they are-respectful, well-mannered, and their son is successful, handsome, and everything we could ask for. So what's the problem in this relationship?"
Her father sighed, looking tired. "It's a life decision, not something we can decide in a single meeting. We need to think carefully and not rush things, okay?" With that, he left the room, leaving Aarohi's mother still frustrated.
Aarohi, who had been silent until now, muttered, "Why didn't Avinash come?"
Her mother shrugged, "He had something urgent to handle. That's why."
Aarohi frowned and thought to herself, What the hell? After ruining my entire day, canceling my plans with my friends, he didn't even bother to show up?
Aarohi went back to her room and was about to change out of the saree she was wearing when a thought crossed her mind. She decided to take a picture to send to Rudra. Choosing a pose that accentuated her waist, Aarohi clicked a stunning, slightly bold picture that made her look irresistibly gorgeous. Without a second thought, she sent it to Rudra, hoping to catch his attention.
Rudra, who had been ignoring her messages since the previous day, saw the notification. This time, however, the picture made him freeze. Aarohi looked breathtakingly beautiful, and he couldn't take his eyes off it. Lost in the image, he felt his frustration battling with undeniable admiration. Snapping out of it, he grabbed his phone and called her immediately.
Aarohi picked up the call and said, "Hello?"
Before she could say anything else, Rudra's voice came through, laced with frustration. "So now you wear a saree and look this beautiful... for him? Just to meet him and show off?"
Aarohi blinked, confused and slightly guilty, wondering if the picture had made him angrier. She quickly replied, "Don't worry, he didn't even show up, okay? He didn't get a chance to see me like this. But I thought maybe someone else would want to see me, feel happy seeing me in this saree. But instead, he's just shouting at me."
Rudra sighed, his frustration softening a little. "I'm still angry with you, Aarohi. You didn't tell me anything about meeting him. But..." His voice trailed off as he admitted reluctantly, "You do look really good. Really hot, actually."
Aarohi smiled at his confession. "I'm really sorry, Rudra. I didn't tell you because I thought I could handle it on my own. But you found out before I could. I promise there's nothing between me and Avinash, okay? He means nothing to me. I'm yours, Rudra. Only yours."
Hearing this, Rudra felt his heart swell, and a smile crept onto his face despite himself. He blushed, feeling as though a celebratory drumbeat was playing in his chest. Clearing his throat to mask his emotions, he said teasingly, "What did you just say? Say it again."
With a soft laugh, Aarohi repeated, "I'm yours, Rudra. Only yours."
Rudra, forgetting all his anger, said warmly, "I love you, okay?"
Aarohi's voice softened as she replied, "I love you too, Rudra. But don't forget that, okay?"
And with that, their little fight dissolved into love, leaving Rudra smiling like a fool.
After all the chaos of the day, Aarohi finally lay on her bed, letting out a deep sigh of relief. Everything was fine between her and Rudra now, and she couldn't help but feel happy about it. Just as she was about to drift into a peaceful moment, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw Avinash's name flashing. Reluctantly, she picked it up.
"Hello, Aarohi," came Avinash's voice.
Aarohi responded in a flat tone, "Hello."
"You don't sound good. Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, her tone indifferent.
Avinash, with a playful lilt in his voice, teased, "Oh, are you upset that I didn't come to meet you today? I'm sorry. I wanted to, but something came up, and I couldn't make it. Don't be upset about it."
Aarohi, unimpressed, shot back, "I'm not upset about it, actually. I'm grateful you didn't come, so I didn't have to see you, at least for now."
Avinash chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. You'll see me soon. Very soon."
"Whatever," Aarohi said curtly. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You could've at least told me if you didn't want to come or had other plans. It's fine with my family and your family, but if I have to meet someone, especially my friends, I can't go because of all this. It's really frustrating, okay? And honestly, that's why I already dislike you, Mr. Avinash."
Avinash sighed dramatically. "Oh, I'm so sorry about this, but it's not my fault. I told you last night that you could meet your friends. I have no problem with that, but you just didn't want to."
Aarohi bristled at his tone. "You think it's that easy?"
"It's super easy," he said confidently. "It's just that you girls overthink everything. You always put others before yourselves, and that's what makes it harder to be a girl. You complicate things unnecessarily."
Aarohi paused, his words lingering in her mind. Despite her irritation, she couldn't deny that he might be right. They did tend to make things more difficult for themselves. Giving it some thought, she muttered, "Yeah, thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind. Point noted."
Avinash laughed softly. "My pleasure."
Aarohi sighed, her fatigue catching up to her. "Okay, I have to go. I'm already tired."
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Avinash said, his tone light. "Goodnight, Aarohi."
"Goodnight," she replied before hanging up. As she set her phone down, she couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and amusement at the conversation.
***********
"I know, guys, itâs been a really long time since I last updated the chapter, and I apologize for the delay. I also realize this chapter isnât very long, but my college exams are going on, and I barely have time to write. However, after reading so many messages and comments like âUpdate, please!â and âWaiting for the chapter!â, I just couldnât resist writing something for you.
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