CHAPTER26 [FLASHBACK]
The room is quiet.
Too quiet.
Vihaan sits on the couch, laptop open, completely focused on his work—as if nothing happened.
As if she isn’t even there.
Aarohi sits on the edge of the bed, lost.
Her eyes blank.
Her mind still trying to understand—
How did everything change in just one moment?
How did her life turn into this?
Her fingers tighten around the bedsheet.
And slowly…
Her thoughts drift away.
Back to where it all started.
---
Flashback…
It was Aarohi’s first day of college.
And she was excited.
Genuinely happy.
A soft smile on her face as she walked into the classroom.
She quickly spots Sana and sits beside her.
“Finally! Same class!” Aarohi whispers excitedly.
Sana laughs softly.
Lecture starts normally.
Everything feels simple.
Normal.
Until—
The classroom door opens.
And a boy walks in.
The entire class goes silent for a second.
Then suddenly—
Whispers.
Girls staring.
Some literally frozen.
Aarohi frowns slightly, confused.
But the moment her eyes land on him—
She forgets to blink.
He walks in with effortless confidence.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Dangerously attractive.
Aarohi keeps staring.
Completely lost.
Then she leans slightly toward Sana and whispers—
“Yeh kaun hai yaar…?”
(Who is he?)
Sana smirks, already expecting this reaction.
“Welcome to reality.” she teases.
Then she says—
“Yeh hai hamara senior… Vihaan Singhania.”
(This is our senior… Vihaan Singhania.)
Aarohi’s eyes widen slightly.
Sana continues—
“College ka sabse handsome ladka.”
(The most handsome guy in college.)
“Padhai me hamesha first.”
(Always first in studies.)
“Sports me bhi top… basketball team ka captain.”
(Top in sports too… captain of the basketball team.)
Aarohi keeps staring at him like she didn’t even hear half of it.
Sana leans closer and adds—
“Ladkiya diwani hain uski…”
(Girls are crazy about him…)
“Par attitude… next level.”
(But his attitude… next level.)
“Kisi se baat nahi karta.”
(He doesn’t talk to anyone.)
“Aur koi badtameezi kare…”
(And if someone misbehaves…)
She smirks—
“Seedha haddiya tod deta hai.”
(He breaks bones.)
Aarohi’s eyes widen even more.
But instead of fear—
There’s something else.
Something new.
“OMG…” she whispers.
“Naam bhi itna perfect hai…”
(Even his name is so perfect…)
Her eyes sparkle slightly.
“Kitna handsome hai yaar…”
(He’s so handsome…)
She puts a hand on her chest dramatically—
“Main toh pehli nazar me hi pighal gayi.”
(I melted at first sight.)
Sana bursts out laughing.
“Tu hi nahi meri jaan…”
(Not just you, my dear…)
She looks around the class.
“Yaha sab ka yahi haal hai.”
(Everyone here feels the same.)
Aarohi smiles slightly…
Still looking at him.
Days pass…
And then weeks.
It had been almost a week—
And Aarohi was completely gone.
Gone in his thoughts.
Gone in his presence.
Gone in him.
Everywhere she looked…
It was just Vihaan.
In the corridor.
On the basketball court.
In the canteen.
Even in her thoughts.
Sana watches her one day, shaking her head.
“Tu sach me pagal ho gayi hai…”
(You’ve seriously gone crazy…)
Aarohi smiles dreamily.
“Mujhe usse ek baar baat karni hai…”
(I just want to talk to him once…)
Sana raises an eyebrow.
“Tujhe lagta hai wo tujhse baat karega?”
(You think he’ll talk to you?)
She continues—
“Itna attitude hai usme…”
(He has so much attitude…)
Aarohi shrugs confidently.
“Pyar kiya toh darna kya.”
(If you’ve loved, then why fear?)
Sana facepalms.
“Tu gayi kaam se…”
(You’re gone…)
Then she sighs—
“Chal… try kar le apni kismat.”
(Fine… go try your luck.)
---
Later…
Library.
Silent.
Peaceful.
Vihaan sits alone, completely focused on his books.
As always.
Unbothered by the world.
Then—
A chair slides beside him.
Aarohi.
She sits right next to him.
Her heart racing.
But face trying to stay calm.
Vihaan doesn’t even look up.
Still reading.
Aarohi gathers courage and says softly—
“Hii… aap senior ho na?”
(Hi… you’re a senior, right?)
No response.
Not even a glance.
Aarohi presses her lips together… then tries again—
“I know… aapko baat karna pasand nahi hai…”
(I know… you don’t like talking…)
Before she can complete—
Vihaan suddenly closes his book.
Stands up.
And walks away.
Just like that.
Without a single word.
Aarohi sits there…
Stunned.
Embarrassed.
Annoyed.
Then she looks in the direction he left and mutters—
“Jitna attitude dikhana hai dikha lo…”
(Show as much attitude as you want…)
Her eyes narrow slightly—
“Main tumse baat karke hi rahungi.”
(I will make you talk to me.)
---
And just like that—
Days turn into weeks.
Weeks turn into months.
Two months pass.
And nothing changes.
Every time Aarohi tries to talk—
Vihaan ignores her.
Walks away.
Doesn’t even acknowledge her existence.
But Aarohi—
She doesn’t give up.
Not once.
Until one day…