Chapter 16

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Roohi's POV

Present time.

Next morning. Mihir's wedding day.

The sunlight poured gently through the sheer curtains, illuminating the little corner of my room where I sat with my knees hugged to my chest, making me realize that I had spent the whole night thinking about him.

It was one morning when I had no time to breathe, but instead of getting ready, I was thinking about him as my heart was in turmoil.

I sat up in bed, running a hand through my hair as the weight of these memories settled over me. Each memory was a thread in the tapestry of my love for him.

But what did it matter? To Vihan, I would always be Roohi, his best friend, and nothing more.

Still, a part of me wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.

But then I recalled a time that was particularly very tough on me; I was trying my level best to keep myself from breaking.

Flashback...

It was one of those rare evenings when we all managed to escape the chaos of medical rotations and just be ourselves. Vihan, Mihir, Gaurvi, and I had gathered at Vihan’s home which now resembled a war zone of pizza boxes, scattered textbooks, and crumpled notes. The evening had been filled with our usual banter, half-hearted attempts at studying, and shared laughter echoing through Vihan’s room.

The air was filled with laughter, a sound only childhood friends could produce—a blend of familiarity, comfort, and memories.

Vihan sat on the couch, casually draped against the armrest, his hair charmingly messy, and his laughter infectious. He was effortlessly magnetic—the kind of person who could make a room brighter just by being in it. For a fleeting moment, I let myself imagine that his gaze lingered on me, that the warmth of his smile was mine to claim.

But then he shattered the moment.

“Guys, I totally forgot!” he exclaimed, sitting up so suddenly that a pile of flashcards toppled to the floor. “I have a date in an hour!”

Mihir groaned, barely looking up. “Another one? Who is it this time? The yoga instructor? Or is it someone new?”

Vihan grinned, unabashed. “Not a yoga instructor, but close. She’s stunning, guys. And she actually said yes to me!”

My stomach sank, the familiar pang of disappointment settling in. Every time I allowed myself the hope that there could be something more between us, he reminded me—intentionally or not—that I was just his Roohi. His best friend.

“Do you really have to go?” I asked, forcing a casual tone. My heart raced as I waited for his reply, even though I already knew what it would be. “We still have that case study to finish.”

He turned to me, his eyes sparkling with mischief, and his boyish charm intact. “Come on, Roohi. You know I can’t miss this. A girl like her doesn’t say yes every day.”

“Vihan,” I said softly as he stood to leave. “Can’t you stay? Just this once?”

He hesitated, his expression softening. For a moment, I thought he might say yes. But then he ruffled my hair and laughed. “You’re cute, Roohi. But I can’t. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“You’re the best, Roohi. Thanks for covering for me.”

Best friend. The words twisted like a dagger.

Before I could respond, he grabbed his keys and disappeared out the door flashing that devastating smile, leaving me staring at the space where he had been. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving silence in his wake. Gaurvi excused herself shortly after, saying she needed to shop with her siblings. The room felt unbearably quiet without them.

Mihir watched me carefully, his gaze lingering as if he could read every thought I was trying to hide.

“You need to tell him,” Mihir said eventually, his tone was steady but kind.

I froze, the words hitting me like a slap. “Tell him what?”

“That you’re in love with him.” Mihir leaned forward, his expression earnest. “It’s obvious to everyone but him, Roohi. You can’t keep doing this to yourself. Vihan’s clueless, but he’s not a mind reader. If you want something to change, you have to take the first step.”

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “And ruin everything? What’s the point? He doesn’t feel the same way, Mihir. He never will.”

Mihir leaned forward, his expression softening. “Then you need to move on, Roohi. You deserve more than this—more than being the girl who waits while he chases someone else.”

I hugged my knees to my chest, shaking my head. “I can’t. I’d rather have him as my friend than risk losing him entirely.”

That night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. But the weight of his words settled over me like a heavy blanket. They weren’t wrong. But how could I stop loving someone who had been the center of my world for as long as I could remember?

Loving Vihan was as natural to me as breathing—and just as impossible to stop.

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Good morning

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Take good care of yourself and havd a nice day.

Thanks.

Chhavi.