CHAPTER43 [COLLAPSED]
Aarohi kept crying against Vihaan's chest for a long time.
Until slowly-
her sobs started becoming quieter.
Weaker.
---
Her entire world had shattered within just a few hours.
The truth had destroyed every belief she ever held onto.
---
Vihaan could feel her trembling slowly stop.
At first, he thought maybe she had finally calmed down.
But then-
something felt wrong.
Too wrong.
---
He immediately pulled back slightly and looked at her face.
And the moment he saw her closed eyes-
his heartbeat stopped.
---
"Aarohi...?"
No response.
---
His expression instantly filled with panic.
"Aarohi!"
He gently shook her.
But she still didn't wake up.
---
Fear rushed through Vihaan's veins.
Without wasting another second, he quickly picked her up bridal style and carefully placed her on the bed.
---
He immediately called the doctor.
His hands were trembling while dialing the number.
Because seeing Aarohi like this-
completely lifeless in his arms-
was breaking him from inside.
---
A few minutes later, the doctor arrived and checked Aarohi carefully.
Vihaan stood beside the bed restlessly the entire time.
His eyes never left her face even for a second.
---
After checking her, the doctor finally looked at Vihaan.
"Tension ki baat nahi hai, Mr. Singhania."
(There's nothing to worry about, Mr. Singhania.)
"Shayad excessive stress ki wajah se behosh hui hain."
(She probably fainted because of excessive stress.)
"Inhe bilkul stress mat lene dijiye."
(Don't let her take any stress.)
"Thodi der me hosh aa jayega."
(She'll regain consciousness soon.)
---
Vihaan silently nodded.
And after giving some instructions, the doctor left.
---
The room once again became silent.
Only Aarohi's soft breathing could be heard.
---
Vihaan slowly walked towards the bed and sat beside her.
For a few moments-
he just kept staring at her face quietly.
So pale.
So broken.
---
Then gently-
he moved a few strands of hair away from her face and started caressing her hair softly.
Carefully.
As if she was the most fragile thing in the world.
---
Pain filled his eyes.
Because no matter how strong Aarohi acted-
today he had finally seen how deeply damaged she truly was.
---
And slowly-
Vihaan's mind drifted into the past.
A memory he could never forget.
FLASHBACK.....
---
It was the first day of college.
Not for him-
but for the new students who had just taken admission.
The entire campus was noisy and full of excitement.
Groups of freshers were roaming around nervously while seniors enjoyed watching them panic.
---
It was the first day for the juniors.
The entire college was filled with noise, excitement, and nervous energy.
Freshers were roaming around with confused faces while seniors enjoyed teasing them from a distance.
---
Meanwhile, Vihaan was sitting in his class casually with Karan beside him.
Completely uninterested in everything happening around him.
---
That's when their professor entered the class.
"Vihaan," she called out.
Vihaan lazily looked up from his phone.
---
"Maine juniors wali class me kuch papers rakhe hain."
(I've kept some papers in the juniors' classroom.)
"Tum jaakar le aao aur sabme distribute kar dena."
(Go bring them and distribute them.)
---
Vihaan sighed slightly.
Clearly not interested.
But he still stood up.
Before leaving, Karan smirked and stood beside him.
"Main bhi aa raha hoon."
(I'm coming too.)
---
Vihaan gave him an annoyed look.
"Tu har jagah mere saath kyun aata hai?"
(Why do you come everywhere with me?)
---
Karan grinned proudly.
"Kyunki college ki aadhi ladkiyan tujhe dekhti hain..."
(Because half the girls in college stare at you...)
"Aur baaki aadhi mujhe."
(And the other half stare at me.)
---
Vihaan rolled his eyes.
"Delusion me jeena band kar."
(Stop living in delusion.)
---
Karan dramatically placed a hand on his chest.
"Dil tod diya tune."
(You broke my heart.)
---
Vihaan was collecting the papers from the teacher's desk casually.
Completely uninterested in the noisy classroom around him.
But then-
his eyes suddenly stopped on someone.
Aarohi.
---
She was sitting beside another girl, laughing softly while talking about something.
Probably her best friend.
Her smile was effortless.
Pure.
And strangely-
Vihaan found himself staring at her for longer than he should have.
---
For a moment, everything around him blurred.
The classroom noise.
The whispers.
The chaos.
Nothing reached him anymore.
---
As if sensing his gaze-
Aarohi suddenly looked up.
Their eyes were about to meet-
but before that could happen-
Vihaan immediately looked away.
Almost too quickly.
---
Karan noticed everything silently.
The way Vihaan suddenly stiffened.
The way he avoided looking at her again.
But surprisingly-
for once, Karan didn't tease him.
He simply observed quietly.
---
After collecting the papers, Vihaan walked out of the classroom without saying a single word.
As if nothing had happened.
---
But the moment he returned to his own class-
something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
---
Whenever he closed his eyes-
he saw her face again.
That innocent smile.
Those expressive eyes.
The way she laughed without caring about the world around her.
---
Vihaan immediately shook his head slightly.
Trying to push those thoughts away.
As if he was forcing himself to forget her.
But no matter how hard he tried-
her face refused to leave his mind.
---
Days slowly passed.
And somehow-
Aarohi kept appearing around him again and again.
Sometimes in the corridor.
Sometimes near the library.
Sometimes laughing loudly with her friends.
---
And every single time-
Vihaan noticed her before even realizing it himself.
---
Then one day-
while Vihaan was walking through the college corridor-
someone suddenly stepped in front of him.
Blocking his path.
---
He looked up.
And there she was again.
Aarohi.
---
A bright smile appeared on her face instantly.
"Hii!"
(Hi!)
---
For a second-
Vihaan completely froze.
His heartbeat suddenly became uneven.
Fast.
Uncontrollable.
---
And he hated it.
---
Because nobody had ever affected him like this before.
No one.
---
But within seconds-
he controlled his expression again.
Cold.
Unreadable.
---
Without replying-
he simply walked past her.
Ignoring her completely.
As if he didn't know her.
As if she never crossed his mind.
As if every time he closed his eyes-
her face didn't appear in front of him again and again.