CHAPTER13 [AT FLAT]
The night had already settled in.
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Vihaan leaves the venue.
But this time—
He doesn’t go to his bungalow.
Instead—
He heads to one of his private flats.
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The city lights reflect on the car window as he sits quietly.
Lost in thought.
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Soon—
The car suddenly jerks.
And stops.
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Vihaan frowns.
“What the hell… (Yeh kya hai…)”
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Driver turns back nervously.
“Sir, gaadi me problem aa gayi hai. (There’s some issue with the car.)”
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Vihaan closes his eyes for a second.
Irritated.
---
“Fine.”
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Since the flat is nearby—
He walks in.
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Inside—
The flat is silent.
Cold.
Empty.
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He loosens his tie.
And heads straight to the washroom.
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After a long day—
All he wants is a shower.
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He turns the shower on—
But—
Nothing.
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Not a single drop.
---
His jaw tightens.
“Seriously? (Sach me?)”
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He immediately takes out his phone.
Calls Karan.
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“Karan, iss flat me paani nahi aa raha hai. (There’s no water in this flat.)”
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Karan replies casually—
“Arre samne wala flat bhi to tumhara hi hai. (The flat opposite is also yours.)”
“Waha chale jao. (Go there.)”
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Vihaan pauses.
“Wo khali hai? (Is it empty?)”
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Karan thinks.
“Ruk, puchta hu. (Wait, I’ll check.)”
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Call cuts.
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After a few minutes—
Karan calls back.
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“Flat khali nahi hai. (The flat isn’t empty.)”
“Koi rehta hai waha. (Someone lives there.)”
“But I talked to them—wo ready hai. (They’re okay with it.)”
“Tu jaake shower lele. (You can go take a shower.)”
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Meanwhile—
In the opposite flat—
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Aarohi has just returned from the hospital.
Tired.
Exhausted.
---
She drops her bag.
And lies down on the bed.
Closing her eyes.
---
But before she can rest—
Her phone rings.
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She picks it up.
---
“Hello?”
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On the other side—
The man from whom she bought the flat.
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“Ma’am, aap ghar par hain? (Are you at home?)”
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Aarohi sits up.
“Haan… kyu? (Yes… why?)”
---
“Actually, samne wale flat ka paani band ho gaya hai. (The water supply in the opposite flat is off.)”
“Agar aapko koi problem na ho… (If you don’t mind…)”
“Toh wo aapke washroom me shower le sakte hain. (They can use your washroom.)”
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Aarohi pauses for a second.
Tired.
But polite.
---
“Thik hai. (Okay.)”
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Call ends.
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A few minutes pass.
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The apartment is quiet.
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And then—
Ding Dong.
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The doorbell rings.
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Aarohi walks toward the door.
Unaware.
Completely unaware—
Of what’s about to happen next.
Aarohi opens the door—
And freezes.
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Standing right in front of her—
Vihaan.
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Shock flashes across her face.
“TUM?! (YOU?!)”
“Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? (What are you doing here?)”
---
Vihaan looks at her.
Calm.
Unbothered.
---
“Main wahi hoon jiske liye tumne gate khola. (I’m the one you opened the door for.)”
“Actually, shower kaam nahi kar raha. (The shower isn’t working.)”
“Didn’t know tum yaha rehti ho. (Didn’t know you live here.)”
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Before she can say anything—
He walks past her.
As if it’s his own place.
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Straight inside.
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Aarohi turns.
Still stunned.
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“Thik hai. (Fine.)”
“Jaldi shower lo aur chale jao. (Take a quick shower and leave.)”
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Her voice—
Cold.
Controlled.
---
But Vihaan stops.
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He slowly turns.
And starts walking toward her.
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Aarohi instinctively takes a step back.
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He steps forward.
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She steps back again.
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He moves closer.
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Step by step—
Until—
Her back hits the wall.
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No way out.
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Vihaan lifts his hand.
Places it on the wall.
Right beside her.
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Aarohi tries to move from the other side—
---
But he blocks that too.
His hand resting there.
Caging her in.
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The distance between them—
Almost nothing.
---
Her breath gets uneven.
---
Vihaan leans slightly closer.
Eyes locked on hers.
---
“Toh, Miss Aarohi Mehra… (So, Miss Aarohi Mehra…)”
“Mujhe nahi jaanti ho tum? (You don’t know me?)”
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His voice—
Low.
Dangerously soft.
---
He studies her face.
Every reaction.
---
“Toh mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai… (Then why does it feel like…)”
“Ke tum bohot nervous ho? (That you’re very nervous?)”
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His gaze drops for a second—
To her chest rising and falling quickly.
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“Aur tumhara dil… (And your heart…)”
“Bohot zor se dhadak raha hai. (Is beating very fast.)”
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Aarohi clenches her fists.
Trying to stay strong.
---
But her heartbeat—
Is betraying her.
---
And Vihaan—
Can hear it.
Feel it.
---
And he smirks.
Let's see what the next part.