CHAPTER15 [PRESSURIZED]
Time doesn’t stop.
It never does.
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Vihaan leaves.
Back to New York.
Work.
Deals.
Power.
As if nothing ever happened.
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One month later—
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Aarohi’s phone rings.
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She looks at the screen—
And freezes.
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Mom.
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Her fingers tremble slightly.
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“Shayad galti se call lag gaya hoga… (Maybe it’s a mistake…)”
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But still—
She picks up.
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“Hello…?”
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A pause.
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Then—
Her mother’s voice.
Cold.
Familiar.
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“Tumhe tumhare dad ke baare me jaana tha na? (You wanted to know about your dad?)”
“Unki death kaise hui… (How he died…)”
“Main tumhe sab bataungi. (I’ll tell you everything.)”
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Aarohi straightens.
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“Sach? (Really?)”
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But then—
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“Lekin meri ek shart hai. (But I have one condition.)”
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Aarohi’s grip tightens.
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“Kya? (What?)”
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“Tumhe shaadi karni hogi… (You’ll have to get married…)”
“Usse jisse main kahungi. (To the person I choose.)”
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Silence.
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Aarohi’s eyes harden.
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“Rehne do. (Forget it.)”
“Main khud pata laga lungi. (I’ll find out myself.)”
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Her mom’s tone doesn’t change.
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“Tumhari marzi. (Your choice.)”
“Lekin agar sach jaana hai… (But if you want the truth…)”
“Toh aaj hi wapas aa jao. (Come back today.)”
“Main sab bata dungi.”
“Par shaadi karni hogi. (But you’ll have to marry.)”
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Call cuts.
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Aarohi stands there.
Confused.
Torn.
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“What should I do…?”
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After a long silence—
She whispers—
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“Fine…”
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Next day—
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She lands in India.
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The next morning—
She reaches her house.
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The door opens.
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Inside—
Some people are already sitting.
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Aarohi pauses.
Confused.
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Then—
Her mom walks in.
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“Yeh hai meri beti, Aarohi. (This is my daughter, Aarohi.)”
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All eyes turn toward her.
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She forces a small smile.
Greets everyone.
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Then sits.
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The boy’s mother starts talking—
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“Mera beta bohot responsible hai. (My son is very responsible.)”
“Zyada tar office ki zimmedari usne hi sambhali hai. (He handles most of the business.)”
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More praises.
More talks.
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Aarohi just sits there.
Silent.
Detached.
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Time passes.
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And then—
The decision is made.
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Wedding date fixed.
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15 days.
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Soon—
Everyone leaves.
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The house becomes quiet again.
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Aarohi turns to her mother.
Eyes filled with questions.
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“Mujhe batao. (Tell me.)”
“Papa ke saath kya hua tha? (What happened to dad?)”
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Her mother looks at her.
Calm.
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“Pehle shaadi hone do. (Let the wedding happen first.)”
“Phir sab bata dungi. (Then I’ll tell you everything.)”
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Aarohi’s frustration rises.
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“Please mom—”
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But—
Her mother walks away.
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No answers.
Again.
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Next day—
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Her phone rings.
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Sana.
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Aarohi picks up.
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“Hello?”
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Sana sounds excited.
Almost shouting—
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“TUJHE PATA HAI?! (DO YOU KNOW?!)”
“Meri shaadi ho rahi hai! (I’m getting married!)”
“Aur wo bhi ussi se jise main pasand karti thi! (And with the one I loved!)”
“14 din baad hai shaadi! (Wedding is in 14 days!)”
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Aarohi goes silent.
Aarohi stays silent for a second—
Then a soft smile.
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“Really? (Sach me?)”
“Congratulations… (Mubarak ho…)”
“Main bohot khush hoon yaar. (I’m really happy for you.)”
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Sana pauses.
Then smiles softly.
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“You know what… (Tumhe pata hai…)”
“Kitne din baad tujhe aise khush dekha hai. (It’s been so long since I’ve seen you this happy.)”
“Din nahi… (Not days…)”
“Kitne saalon baad. (After so many years.)”
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Aarohi looks away for a moment.
Hiding something.
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Then suddenly changes the topic—
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“Accha ye sab chhod. (Leave all this.)”
“Party toh banti hai na? (We need to celebrate, right?)”
“Aur jiju se kab milwa rahi hai? (When will I meet your fiancé?)”
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Sana grins.
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“Wahi toh… (That’s the thing…)”
“Bas aate hi honge. (He must be on his way.)”
“Chal andar. (Come inside.)”
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Both walk into the hotel.
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They sit.
Talk.
Laugh.
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After some time—
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Sana suddenly stands up.
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Aarohi looks up—
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And then—
Someone walks in.
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Tall.
Confident.
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Aarohi’s eyes slightly narrow.
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Sana smiles brightly.
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“She is my best friend—Aarohi Mehra.”
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Then she looks at Aarohi—
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“And he is my soon-to-be husband.”
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Aarohi’s gaze shifts to him.
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Arjun Singhania.
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For a second—
Time feels strange.
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Aarohi composes herself.
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“Nice to meet you. (Milkar accha laga.)”
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Arjun nods.
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“Same here.”
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They sit.
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The three of them talk.
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Light conversations.
Small laughs.
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Time passes easily.
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As if everything is normal.
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As if nothing is complicated.
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Later—
They all leave together.
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Sit in the car.
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First—
They drop Aarohi.
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“Take care. (Apna khayal rakhna.)”
Sana says.
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Aarohi nods.
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Then the car drives away.
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Arjun drops Sana too.
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And the night ends.
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But not for Aarohi.
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She enters her house.
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Finds her mom.
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Again—
Same question.
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“Please batao. (Please tell me.)”
“Papa ke saath kya hua tha? (What happened to dad?)”
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But—
Same answer.
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“Shaadi ke baad. (After marriage.)”
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Aarohi closes her eyes.
Frustrated.
Helpless.
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Days pass.
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One week later—
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Now—
Only 7 days left.
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Shopping begins.
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Big stores.
Expensive collections.
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Both families present.
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Ladke wale bhi aaye hue hain. (The groom’s family is also there.)
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But—
The groom?
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Not present.
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“Wo bahar rehta hai. (He lives abroad.)”
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Excuses.
Simple.
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Aarohi doesn’t question.
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She just follows.
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Mehendi outfits.
Haldi outfits.
Wedding dress.
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Everything is chosen from the biggest stores.
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Heavy designs.
Bright colors.
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People smiling.
Talking.
Planning.
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But in between all this noise—
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Aarohi feels nothing.
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The truth she is about to uncover.
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And the past—
That refuses to stay buried.
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