CHAPTER29 [RITUAL]
Aarohi stares at the jewelry for a long moment.
Heavy gold. Diamonds. Shine.
Everything she never wanted.
For a second, she feels like throwing it all away.
But then—
She quietly picks it up.
One by one…
She wears it.
Not because she wants to—
But because right now, she has to.
Her expression turns calm.
Controlled.
Like she’s already planning something.
---
Downstairs…
The dining area is already set.
Sana is there, fully ready, talking to a few family members.
The moment her eyes fall on Aarohi—
She stops.
Aarohi walks in slowly.
Graceful.
Beautiful.
But her eyes—
Still hiding a storm.
Sana immediately walks toward her.
“Aarohi, tu theek hai na?”
(Aarohi, are you okay?)
Aarohi gives a small nod.
“Hm.”
(Hm.)
Before Sana can ask anything else—
Vihaan’s mom walks in with a warm smile.
“Aa gayi tum dono… good.”
(You both are here… good.)
She starts explaining everything—
“Yeh sab samaan yahan rakha hai… sugar, dry fruits, doodh… sab ready hai.”
(All the ingredients are here… sugar, dry fruits, milk… everything is ready.)
Then she adds softly—
“Aaj tum dono ki pehli rasoi hai.”
(Today is your first cooking ritual.)
Aarohi hesitates for a second.
“Aunty, waise—”
But before she can finish—
Vihaan’s mom gently interrupts—
“Beta, aunty nahi… mom bolo.”
(Child, not aunty… say mom.)
Aarohi goes silent.
Just nods slightly.
---
Kitchen…
Sana and Aarohi stand side by side.
Like old times.
Like nothing changed.
But everything has.
Sana starts making halwa.
Aarohi starts preparing kheer.
For a while, silence stays between them.
Then Sana speaks softly—
“Yaar… main khush hoon ki hum dono saath hain…”
(I’m happy that we’re together…)
She pauses.
“Par dukh bhi hai… ki tu apni marzi se nahi hai.”
(But I’m sad… that you’re not here by your choice.)
Aarohi keeps stirring the kheer.
Her expression doesn’t change.
“Ab kya socha hai? Aage kya karegi?”
(What have you thought? What will you do next?)
Aarohi stops for a second.
Then looks straight ahead.
“Filhal kuch nahi socha hai…”
(For now, I haven’t thought anything…)
A small, dangerous smile appears on her lips—
“Lekin agar wo khud ko bohot smart samajhta hai na…”
(But if he thinks he’s very smart…)
She stirs the kheer again—
“Toh theek hai…”
(Then fine…)
Her voice turns cold—
“Main bhi eet ka jawab patthar se dungi.”
(I’ll answer a brick with a stone.)
Sana’s eyes light up.
A proud smile appears.
“That’s my girl.”
Both share a look.
Understanding.
Strength.
Then they finish their dishes.
Sana brings the halwa.
Aarohi brings the kheer.
And together—
They place it on the dining table.
Ready.
For the next move.
Aarohi and Sana place both dishes properly on the table.
Sana walks and sits beside Arjun, smiling softly.
Aarohi hesitates for a second…
But then, unwillingly—
She sits beside Vihaan.
A distance she never wanted… yet can’t avoid.
---
Vihaan’s mom smiles warmly.
“Beta, serve karo sabko.”
(Serve everyone, dear.)
Aarohi immediately stands up.
“Ji aunty—”
(Yes aunty—)
But Anjali (vihaan mom's) gently interrupts—
“Beta, aunty nahi…”
(Not aunty…)
Her voice softens—
“Main bhi tumhari maa hoon.”
(I am your mother too.)
She smiles lovingly—
“Tum bilkul meri beti Rhea jaisi ho mere liye.”
(You are just like my daughter Rhea to me.)
Aarohi goes silent.
She doesn’t say anything.
Just nods slightly—
“Ji…”
(Okay…)
Vihaan notices everything.
Her hesitation.
Her silence.
Her distance.
---
Everyone starts eating again.
Sana takes a spoon of halwa and brings it toward Arjun.
“Taste karo… batao kaisa hai?”
(Taste it… tell me how it is?)
Arjun smiles and eats from her hand.
Then says softly—
“Tumne itne pyaar se banaya hai… kharab kaise ho sakta hai?”
(You made it with so much love… how can it be bad?)
He smiles at her—
“Bahut tasty hai.”
(It’s very tasty.)
Sana blushes slightly.
---
Vihaan quietly eats his food.
Ignoring everything sweet on the table.
Anjali notices and says—
“Beta, kheer taste karo…”
(Son, taste the kheer…)
She smiles toward Aarohi—
“Tumhari wife ne banayi hai.”
(Your wife made it.)
Vihaan pauses.
He doesn’t like sweets.
But he can’t refuse his mom.
So he takes a small spoon.
Tastes it.
His expression doesn’t change.
But he doesn’t say anything either.
He simply stands up.
“Main nikalta hoon.”
(I’m leaving.)
And walks away.
Anjali sighs lightly.
“Usse zyada meetha pasand nahi hai…”
(He doesn’t like sweets much…)
Trying to cover the moment.
---
After breakfast—
Anjali brings gifts.
A ritual.
For both the new brides.
She first comes to Sana.
“Yeh tumhare liye…”
(This is for you…)
A beautiful gold necklace set.
Then she turns to Aarohi.
“And yeh tumhare liye…”
(And this is for you…)
A stunning diamond set.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Heavy.
Just like everything else.
---
Then Vihaan’s dad steps forward.
“Bless you both.”
(God bless you both.)
He gives Sana a bracelet.
And Aarohi a delicate diamond watch.
“Khush raho.”
(Stay happy.)
---
Arjun smiles and comes toward Aarohi.
“As your jeth…”
(As your elder brother-in-law…)
He hands her a small box.
Inside—
A classy pendant.
“Welcome to the family.”
Aarohi forces a small smile.
“Thank you…”
---
Sana comes last.
She hugs Aarohi tightly.
“Yeh meri taraf se…”
(This is from me…)
She gives her a simple but beautiful charm bracelet.
"Not as your sister in law, as your best friend....."
Not expensive.
But full of emotion.
Aarohi’s eyes soften slightly.
“Thank you…” she whispers.
---
After everything—
Everyone starts leaving for their rooms.
The house slowly gets quiet again.
---
Upstairs—
Aarohi stands in the room.
Holding all the gifts.
But feeling nothing.
Because no matter how expensive things are—
They can’t buy what was taken from her.
Her choice.
Her freedom.
Her life.
The entire day feels slow.
Heavy.
Empty.
Sana had gone to her mom’s house due to some issue, and Aarohi was left alone in the mansion.
No one to talk to.
No one to understand.
Just silence.
And thoughts she couldn’t escape.
---
Night.
Dinner time.
Downstairs, everyone gathers.
But Aarohi is still in the room, sitting on the couch with her laptop.
Trying to distract herself.
Trying to focus on something… anything.
The door opens.
Vihaan walks in.
He glances at her briefly, then goes to freshen up.
A few minutes later, he comes out.
“Chalo… dinner ke liye sab wait kar rahe hain.”
(Come… everyone is waiting for dinner.)
Aarohi doesn’t argue.
She quietly shuts her laptop.
And follows him downstairs.
---
Dining table…
Everyone is already seated.
And to Aarohi’s surprise—
Sana is back.
Sana smiles slightly seeing her.
Aarohi sits beside her this time.
Trying to avoid Vihaan.
Dinner starts.
Normal conversations.
Then suddenly—
Sana looks at Aarohi.
“Aarohi, tera kya plan hai?”
(Aarohi, what’s your plan?)
Aarohi looks at her.
“Matlab?”
(What do you mean?)
Sana continues—
“Tu ne itni padhai ki hai… uska kya?”
(You studied so much… what about that?)
Everyone’s attention shifts to Aarohi.
For a moment, she pauses.
Then calmly says—
“Haan… kal se join kar rahi hoon.”
(Yeah… I’m joining from tomorrow.)
A slight surprise spreads across the table.
“Kaunsa hospital?”
(Which hospital?)
Aarohi replies—
“CityCare Multispeciality Hospital.”
Confident.
Clear.
Vihaan looks at her.
Interested.
But says nothing.
Anjali smiles proudly—
“Good… busy rehna bhi zaruri hai.”
(Good… it’s important to stay busy.)
Everyone agrees.
---
Dinner ends.
Everyone heads back to their rooms.
---
Room…
Vihaan sits on the couch again.
Laptop open.
Working.
Focused.
Aarohi stays on the other side of the room.
Silent.
Distant.
Then suddenly—
Her phone rings.
She looks at the screen.
And freezes for a second.
Zayan Calling…
Wait for next part.??