Chapter 37: chapter 37

The phone buzzed relentlessly in Aarohi’s hand, Rohan’s name glaring back at both of them. Vihaan’s jaw tightened as he stared at her, his silence heavy with expectation.

“You’re really going to answer that?” he asked coldly, his voice sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room.

Aarohi’s chest tightened under his intense gaze, but something inside her snapped. “Yes, I am,” she said firmly, her tone defiant. “Because ignoring this will only make things worse.”

Before Vihaan could respond, Aarohi swiped to answer the call.

“Hello?” she said, her voice steady but strained.

Rohan’s voice came through, cheerful and oblivious to the storm brewing on her end. “Hey, Aarohi! I just wanted to check if you’ve seen the notes I sent. They might help with the project deadline.”

Vihaan’s eyes narrowed, his arms crossed as he listened intently, his jaw clenched tight.

“Yeah, I saw them. Thanks, Rohan,” Aarohi said curtly, keeping her response brief.

Rohan hesitated, sensing her tone. “Is everything okay? You sound… tense.”

Aarohi glanced at Vihaan, who was now glaring daggers at her. “I’m fine,” she said quickly, her voice clipped. “Just busy. I’ll call you later if I need anything.”

“All right,” Rohan replied, his tone uncertain. “Take care.”

She ended the call and let out a shaky breath, looking up to meet Vihaan’s icy stare.

---

“Busy?” Vihaan repeated mockingly. “That’s the excuse you’re going with? I’m standing right here, and you still answered his call.”

“I answered it because I have nothing to hide!” Aarohi shot back, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “You’re the one making this into something it’s not.”

“Nothing to hide?” he scoffed, stepping closer. “Do you know what it looks like when your so-called ‘friend’ feels comfortable calling you at this hour? It looks like you’ve given him the wrong idea.”

Her fists clenched at his words, her patience wearing thin. “I haven’t given him any idea, Vihaan! He called about a project—nothing more, nothing less. You’re twisting this into something it’s not because you can’t handle the fact that I have friends who happen to be men!”

Vihaan’s face hardened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “It’s not about your friends, Aarohi. It’s about boundaries. And right now, it feels like you’re more concerned about him than about us.”

“Boundaries?” Aarohi said, her voice rising. “You mean your boundaries. The ones you think you get to dictate. But this isn’t just about you, Vihaan. This is my life, too, and I won’t let you control who I talk to or what I do.”

His expression darkened, his possessiveness seeping into every word. “I’m not trying to control you, Aarohi. I’m trying to protect what’s mine.”

She froze at his words, her heart pounding in her chest. “What’s yours?” she repeated, her voice trembling.

“Yes,” he said firmly, his gaze unyielding. “You’re mine, Aarohi. And I won’t let anyone come between us—especially not Rohan.”

---

Her chest tightened at the intensity in his voice, her emotions threatening to spill over. “You don’t get to decide who’s a threat to us, Vihaan. Rohan is not a threat. The only thing threatening us right now is you and your inability to trust me.”

His jaw clenched, his voice sharp. “Trust isn’t the issue here. It’s about respect. And you answering his call, knowing how I feel about it, shows a lack of respect for me and this relationship.”

Aarohi stared at him in disbelief. “Respect? Do you even hear yourself? Respect is a two-way street, Vihaan, and right now, it feels like you only care about your side of it.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with unresolved tension. Vihaan took a step back, his expression a mix of anger and frustration.

“I’m trying to protect us, Aarohi,” he said finally, his voice softer but no less intense. “But if you can’t see that, then maybe we’re not on the same page.”

She shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You’re not protecting us, Vihaan. You’re suffocating us. And if you don’t stop, there won’t be anything left to protect.”

---

Vihaan watched as Aarohi turned away, her shoulders tense and her steps unsteady. He wanted to reach out, to pull her back and make her understand his perspective, but his pride held him back.

Aarohi’s mind raced as she left the room, her emotions swirling in a storm of anger, frustration, and sadness. She didn’t know how to fix this, but one thing was clear: if Vihaan didn’t learn to let go of his need for control, their relationship would never survive.

Would Vihaan realize the consequences of his actions before it’s too late? Or would his possessiveness drive Aarohi further away?