Aarohi's morning started just like any other, filled with the same monotonous chatter from her parents about Avinash and his family. They went on and on about how wonderful he was, how lucky she would be if she agreed to marry him. Aarohi, utterly uninterested, sat there, zoning out, bored beyond belief. She'd had enough of hearing about Avinash-his name echoed in every corner of the house.
Tired of it all, she decided to go out. She quickly got ready, hoping some fresh air would clear her mind. Just as she was about to step out, her mom's phone rang. Aarohi paused near the door, not really caring until she noticed her mom's face light up with sudden joy, her expressions shifting as if she'd just heard the best news ever. Aarohi's curiosity was piqued. What could possibly make her this happy?
But as soon as her mom answered the call, the mystery was solved. It was Avinash. Aarohi rolled her eyes dramatically, regretting even the slightest interest. She listened as her mom kept agreeing enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, of course! Of course!" without offering any context. Aarohi crossed her arms, irritation bubbling up.
When the call finally ended, Aarohi, though already knowing the answer, asked flatly, "Whose call was that?"
Her mom beamed, "Avinash, beta."
Annoyed, Aarohi snapped, "Don't call him beta, okay?"
Her mother shot her a sharp look, "Shut up!"
Aarohi threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine, whatever. I'm going out. I'll be back after meeting my friend."
But just as she turned to leave, her mom's voice rang out again, "No, no, stop! You're not going anywhere."
Aarohi spun around, confused. "Why? You literally said yes five minutes ago."
Her mother straightened up, brushing invisible creases from her saree. "Avinash wants to meet you. You have to go meet him in an hour. He'll send the address. Now go and change-wear something nice."
Aarohi stared, stunned. What the hell? She gritted her teeth, her dislike for Avinash growing by the second. But knowing she couldn't outright refuse her mother, she sighed. "Fine. I'll go. But I'm not changing. I'm wearing this."
Her mother frowned. "No, you're not. Go and change."
Aarohi's patience snapped. "If you force me to change, I'm not going anywhere. That's it."
Her mother glared but gave in with a huff. "Okay, fine. Just go. But be respectful towards him, okay? Look how respectful he is-he could've called you directly, but instead, he called me first to ask for permission. That's how decent and sanskari he is."
Aarohi rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Whatever," she muttered, grabbing her bag and walking out, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
After a while, Aarohi's phone buzzed with a message. Of course, it was from Avinash. She opened it to find the address of a small coffee shop-not some fancy place, just a modest little café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn't even far from her house, just about a half-hour's drive.
Without wasting much time, she booked a cab, her mind swirling with thoughts. But unlike what anyone would assume, she wasn't excited to meet him because she was interested. No, she was eager to finally put an end to this whole drama-to meet him, say no straight to his face, and cancel this ridiculous marriage talk once and for all. The thought of closing this chapter for good filled her with a strange sense of satisfaction.
As she stepped out of her house, her fingers hovered over her phone. She wanted to call Rudra. She craved the comfort of his voice, the ease with which she could talk to him about anything. But then she paused. What if he asks where I'm going? She knew she couldn't tell him the truth, and lying to him felt even worse. The thought of deceiving him, even for a small thing, twisted her heart.
So, with a sigh, she locked her phone and slipped it back into her bag. Not now, she told herself. I'll talk to him later. And with that, she got into the cab, her heart set on ending something she never wanted to begin in the first place.
Aarohi reached the café, stepping out of the cab after paying the fare. The place was small but had a certain charm to it-beautiful in its simplicity. The exterior wasn't flashy, yet it had an inviting warmth that caught her off guard. There weren't too many people around, just a few scattered here and there, giving the café a peaceful, cozy vibe.
As she walked inside, the soft chime of the doorbell greeted her. The café was even more beautiful from the inside. The wooden décor, the soft yellow lights, the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the subtle scent of books-it felt like a hidden gem tucked away from the chaos of the city. She couldn't believe she had lived her whole life in this city, yet never stumbled upon this place. How did I miss this? she thought. She loved cafés, had explored almost every café nearby, but this one didn't even look new. It seemed like it had been there for years, quietly existing, untouched by the rush outside. The air inside felt fresh, peaceful, like it held stories whispered only to those who cared to listen.
She glanced around. A few people sat in corners-some engrossed in books, some scrolling through their phones, a couple of friends chatting softly. Her eyes scanned the room, looking for Avinash, but she didn't spot anyone who seemed to be waiting for her. There was a guy sitting alone with his phone, but she wasn't sure if it was him. Not wanting to stand awkwardly, she decided to take a seat at an empty table by the window.
She sat down, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden table absentmindedly. The soft hum of conversations around her filled the space, but her mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts about the meeting she didn't even want to have.
Aarohi sat there, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, glancing at the entrance every now and then. After about five minutes, one of the café staff approached her with a polite smile and asked for her order. She wasn't really in the mood for anything, but she knew she couldn't just sit there without ordering. With a sigh, she asked for a strong coffee, hoping it might freshen her mood.
While waiting, she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone, checking random updates, trying to distract herself. Minutes passed, her coffee arrived, steaming hot with a rich aroma that filled the air, but there was still no sign of Avinash. Frustrated, she decided to call him, but his phone was out of network. Of course, she thought, rolling her eyes.
Twenty minutes slipped by. She finished her coffee, her patience running thin. That's it. I'm done waiting. She was actually relieved. Now she had the perfect excuse to tell her mother-"I went, but he never showed up." That was a win in her book.
As she gathered her things and stood up to leave, her eyes caught someone sitting in the far corner of the café. A man, casually dressed, engrossed in his own world. There was something familiar about him. She squinted slightly, trying to place where she'd seen him before. And then it hit her-he's the same guy from the train when I was coming back from Delhi.
She couldn't remember his name, but his face was etched in her memory. A spontaneous thought crossed her mind-Since I'm already here and Avinash ditched me, why not say hi?
Aarohi walked over to his table, her heart beating a little faster-not because she was nervous, but because it felt strange to approach a stranger she'd met only once. Still, it was better than sitting alone, stewing over Avinash.
She stopped in front of him and said, "Hey, you!"
The man was looking down at his phone. As soon as he heard her voice, he looked up. His eyes met hers, and recognition flashed across his face. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, hi! You? Here?" he said, his voice casual but with a hint of surprise.
"Yeah, I'm here," Aarohi replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Mind if I sit?"
"Of course, please," he said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him.
She pulled out the chair and sat down, feeling oddly at ease. "So... what are you doing here?"
"Nothing much," he replied with a slight shrug. "Just enjoying some alone time."
"Oh," Aarohi nodded. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. Are you waiting for someone?"
He shook his head, leaning back slightly. "No, no. I like spending time alone here. This is one of my favorite places. Whenever I need a break from everything, I come here, grab a coffee, and just... exist."
Aarohi smiled. "That's nice. This is my first time here, actually. It's a really peaceful place. I like it."
"Yeah," he said, glancing around as if seeing the café through her eyes. "I knew it."
She raised an eyebrow. "Knew what?"
He chuckled softly. "Nothing. Forget it."
Aarohi gave him a playful look but let it slide.
"Why don't you order something?"
"I already had my coffee," she said. "Actually, I was just about to leave, but then I saw you. It took me a second to recognize you, and when I did, I thought, Why not say hi?"
"Well, I'm glad you did," he replied with a warm smile. "It was nice talking to you on the train. Honestly, I wouldn't mind traveling with you again."
Aarohi blinked. "Oh... what?"
He laughed. "I'm kidding. Just joking."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"What's your name again? I'm sorry, I kind of forgot."
He placed his hand over his heart dramatically. "Ouch. That hurts. But don't worry, it's Avi. And you're Aarohi, right?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "You remember?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "How could I forget?"
Aarohi raised an eyebrow, curious. "What?
Avi chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "Ah, no, no... I mean, I have a sharp memory. I don't forget things easily."
"Oh, that's good," Aarohi replied with a small smile.
Then, Avi asked, "So, did you come here to meet your friend?"
Aarohi sighed, rolling her eyes. "No, no. My mom wanted me to meet this guy. I came here just for that, but he never showed up."
Avi's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Oh? How can he do that?"
Aarohi frowned, her frustration bubbling up as she stirred the empty coffee cup in front of her. "Can you believe it? I could've been somewhere else right now, having a good time with my friends. But no, I had to come here because Avinash wanted to meet me." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "And guess what? He didn't even show up."
Avi leaned back in his chair, resting one arm casually on the table, a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He didn't interrupt-just listened, his eyes gleaming with amusement as Aarohi went on.
"I mean, who does that?" she continued, clearly on a roll now. "He was the one who called my mom, set this whole thing up like some big deal. And here I am, sitting in a café, waiting like an idiot. He could've at least sent a message saying he's not coming. But no, not even that. So irresponsible."
Avi's smirk deepened, but he kept his face composed, nodding slightly as if he was taking her complaints very seriously.
"And you know what's worse?" Aarohi leaned in slightly, her voice dropping like she was about to share some great secret. "My mom thinks he's this perfect, respectful guy just because he called her to set up the meeting instead of calling me directly. Like, what is that even? Is that supposed to be impressive?" She threw her hands up, exasperated.
Avi chuckled softly, finally speaking. "Wow. Sounds like he's really something."
Aarohi didn't catch the playful edge in his tone. "Oh, he is, all right. Selfish, arrogant, and clearly unreliable. Honestly, I don't even know why my parents are obsessed with him. If this is his idea of making a good impression, he's doing a terrible job."
Avi rested his chin on his hand, still smirking. "Maybe he was nervous?"
"Nervous? Please," Aarohi scoffed. "Guys like him don't get nervous. They're too busy thinking the world revolves around them."
Avi bit back a laugh, shaking his head slightly. "You've really figured him out, huh?"
"Oh, I don't need to. His actions speak for themselves," she huffed, crossing her arms.
Avi's smirk lingered as he sipped his coffee, his eyes twinkling with a secret he wasn't ready to share just yet.
Aarohi glanced at her watch, letting out a small sigh. "I think I should go now. It was nice catching up with you."
Avi nodded with a warm smile. "Yeah, sure. It was good seeing you again."
As Aarohi stood up, she realized her day had been completely wasted waiting for Avinash-thanks to this pointless meeting. But surprisingly, she didn't feel as annoyed anymore. Ranting about Avinash to Avi had lightened her mood. She felt oddly relieved, like a weight had been lifted.
Walking out of the café, she thought to herself, Well, maybe the day wasn't a total waste after all.
As soon as Aarohi stepped into the house, she felt the tension hanging in the air like a thick cloud. Her parents were sitting in the living room, their faces stiff with anger. Her father's arms were crossed, and her mother's piercing gaze followed her every move.
Aarohi, pretending not to notice, tossed her bag on the side table and walked straight to them , venting her frustration. "You know what? He never showed up. I waited for so long, and he didn't even bother to call or message. Such a careless guy! I'm not meeting him again. Don't ever ask me to meet him, okay? This is the last time!"
She was about to storm off when her mother's voice, sharp and cold, stopped her in her tracks.
"Wait, Aarohi. Since when did you start lying to your own parents? Where are you learning this from?"
Aarohi spun around, confusion written all over her face. "What? What are you talking about?"
Her mother stood up, her expression a mix of disappointment and dramatic flair. "Avinash called me. He sounded very upset. He told me he was a little late because of traffic, but when he reached the café, he saw you sitting with another man. You were laughing and talking comfortably with him. Who was that man, Aarohi? Did you call him there on purpose? So Avinash could see you with him?"
Aarohi's mouth fell open, stunned by the accusation, but her mother wasn't done.
"Is he your boyfriend? Tell me, Aarohi, is this what we raised you for? To lie to us and disrespect our trust like this?" Her voice grew louder with every word, echoing through the house.
Aarohi clenched her fists, feeling a mix of anger and disbelief rising inside her. Seriously? This was about to get messy.
Aarohi's mind raced as her mother's words sank in. Shit! This whole thing is coming down on me now? she thought, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
She took a deep breath, trying to hold herself together. "No one! I wasn't talking to anyone, okay? He was just... someone I knew. That's it," she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "When Avinash didn't show up-when he just ghosted me-I was leaving. And then I saw that guy sitting there. I knew him from before, so I just... talked to him. For like five minutes. Five minutes, okay? And please, you're my mother, not his. So start behaving like it!"
Her voice cracked slightly, a mix of anger and hurt laced in her words. Without waiting for a response, she stormed off, her footsteps heavy against the floor as she made her way to her room, slamming the door behind her.
But even with the door shut, she could still hear her mother's voice, sharp and full of complaints.
"See? She's started talking back now," her mother grumbled, her voice dripping with disapproval. "This is what happens when you give them too much freedom. Now she doesn't even listen. This is all because of love. You spoiled her," she snapped, clearly directing the blame toward her father.
Aarohi clenched her jaw, tears stinging the corners of her eyes-not because she felt guilty, but because of the suffocating frustration. Why is everything always my fault? she thought, gripping her pillow tightly. I didn't even do anything wrong.
Aarohi was sprawled on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind tangled in frustration. Her stomach growled, reminding her she'd had nothing but a strong coffee since morning. It was already afternoon, and the argument with her mother had drained her even more. But her pride wouldn't let her walk into the kitchen and ask for food. Ugh, I should've eaten outside. Stupid! she thought, groaning inwardly.
Just as she was about to bury her face in her pillow, her phone rang. Without glancing at the screen, she picked it up, her frustration spilling over.
"What do you think of yourself, huh? You're so smart? No, you're a fool! How could you do this?" she snapped, venting without pause.
A confused voice on the other end replied, "Uh aaruh... what happened? What did I do now?"
Aarohi froze. Oh no. She quickly pulled the phone away to check the caller ID-Rudra.
"Oh, shit! Rudra! Hi... how are you?" she stammered, her frustration melting into embarrassment.
"I'm good, but you don't sound fine. What happened? Why are you so irritated? And you didn't even call me since yesterday. Don't tell me you've started forgetting me," Rudra teased.
Aarohi's heart softened. "No, of course not! How can I forget you? Don't say that," she replied quickly.
"Hmm, okay then. So tell me-why are you so irritated? And who were you expecting to call, huh?" Rudra's voice had that familiar warmth, laced with curiosity.
"Nothing... just leave it. Anyway, how are you doing? When are you coming back?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"Next week. I really can't wait to meet you," Rudra said, his voice softening.
Aarohi sighed, "I just can't wait to come back either. To be honest, I'm so frustrated living here. My house doesn't even feel like mine anymore."
Rudra chuckled lightly. "Then come to mine."
Her heart skipped a beat. Wait, what? Aarohi blinked, her cheeks warming. "What?" she whispered, half-smiling.
Rudra hesitated for a second, then continued, "You know... I've been thinking about this for a while, but I just couldn't gather the courage to say it. But after staying away from you for even this little time, I know-I just want to live with you. I mean, you know... you can shift with me. If you're comfortable, of course."
Silence filled the line for a moment. Aarohi's mind raced, her heart thudding. She didn't know what to say, the words tangled on her tongue.
Sensing her hesitation, Rudra quickly added, "Hey, you don't have to feel pressured. I'm just asking. Take your time to think about it, okay?"
Aarohi smiled softly, feeling the tension ease. "Rudra..."
"Yeah?"
"Have you had your lunch?" he asked suddenly, trying to lighten the mood.
She groaned, "No. You know what? This is officially the worst day of my life. I haven't eaten anything since morning except for a coffee, and after arguing with my mom, I can't even step into the kitchen."
Rudra burst into laughter. "Why? Because your ego will hurt?"
"Yeah, exactly!" she admitted, rolling her eyes.
"Well then, where do you live exactly? I mean, I know the place, but what's your exact address?" Rudra asked casually.
Aarohi narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Why? Are you planning to come here?"
Rudra chuckled, "Who knows? Maybe I am."
With a playful huff, she gave him her address, describing the exact location of her house.
"Oh, you live in a pretty nice society," Rudra remarked.
"Yeah... maybe," she replied, smiling to herself.
"Alright, I've got to go now. But please, fight your ego and have your lunch, okay?" he said gently.
"Okay," she whispered.
After hanging up, Aarohi felt lighter, the frustration from earlier fading away. And unlike every other time, this time she was the first to say it.
"I miss you... I love you," she said
Almost instantly, Rudra replied, "Me too."
Her heart fluttered, and for the first time that day, she smiled genuinely.
Aarohi kept lying on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting between frustration and exhaustion. After a while, her phone rang again. This time, she didn't answer in a rush. Instead, she glanced at the screen-it wasn't Rudra. It wasn't even Avinash. It was an unknown number.
Curious, she picked up the call.
"Hello, is this Aarohi?" a man's voice spoke from the other end. "I have a parcel for you."
A parcel? Aarohi frowned. She hadn't ordered anything. But curiosity got the better of her, and she slipped out of her room, careful not to alert her parents. She stepped outside the house, and there he was-a delivery guy holding a parcel with her name on it.
She took the package, still puzzled, until it hit her. Of course. That's why Rudra asked for my address. This boy! A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, a sense of relief washing over her. At least I won't be starving anymore.
Sneaking back into the house without her parents noticing, she tiptoed to her room, shut the door quietly, and plopped onto her bed with the parcel. But before diving in, she changed into her favorite oversized T-shirt and comfy pyjamas-her comfort zone.
She grabbed her phone, opened Netflix, and scrolled through to find something light to watch. It was a habit-she couldn't eat without watching something. Settling on a movie, she finally opened the parcel, her eyes lighting up at the sight of all her favorite food. God, Rudra knows me too well.
She ate like someone who hadn't seen food in days, savoring every bite. Hunger mixed with comfort, and it felt like a warm hug after a bad day. Once she was done, she carefully disposed of the packaging, making sure no one in the house would find out.
Lying back on her bed, full and content, she picked up her phone to call Rudra. But he didn't answer-probably busy. So she decided to text him instead, her fingers typing out a message filled with warmth and mischief:
"I love you so so much â¤ï¸ And for sending me this, you're getting a special return gift when we'll meet. Something only for you ð
Can't wait to see you and make you realize just how much I missed youð"
With a sly smile, she hit send and closed her eyes, feeling a little less heavy than she did earlier.
*********
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