CHAPTER44 [THE CHALLENGE THAT RUINED TWO HEART]
Days slowly turned into weeks.
And without even realizing it-
Vihaan had started noticing Aarohi everywhere.
---
Whenever she entered the corridor laughing with Sana-
his eyes automatically searched for her.
Whenever she spoke loudly in class-
he found himself listening quietly.
Whenever she smiled-
something inside him felt strangely lighter.
---
And that irritated him the most.
Because Vihaan Singhania was never someone who got distracted.
Never someone who cared.
Never someone who lost control over his own thoughts.
But Aarohi-
she was slowly entering places inside him that nobody ever had.
---
The worst part?
She had absolutely no idea.
---
Just like before-
Aarohi continued following him around fearlessly.
Sometimes she would wait outside his class.
Sometimes near the basketball court.
And sometimes she would randomly appear beside him while he was walking.
---
"Hii Vihaan!"
(Hi Vihaan!)
---
He would ignore her.
Every single time.
---
But secretly-
his heartbeat still reacted exactly the same way.
---
One afternoon, Vihaan was sitting alone on the basketball court stairs after practice.
Sweat covered his forehead while he drank water silently.
That's when he heard footsteps approaching.
And without even looking-
he already knew who it was.
---
Aarohi sat beside him casually.
As if it was the most normal thing in the world.
---
"Kya tum har waqt itne hi serious rehte ho?"
(Do you stay this serious all the time?)
---
Vihaan didn't reply.
---
Aarohi looked at him dramatically.
"Tum haste hue ache lagoge."
(You would look good while smiling.)
---
Vihaan finally turned towards her slightly.
"Aur tum chup rahogi toh zyada achi lagogi."
(And you would look better if you stayed quiet.)
---
Instead of getting offended-
Aarohi gasped dramatically.
"Matlab ache toh lagti hoon?"
(So that means I do look good?)
---
For the first time-
Vihaan almost smiled.
Almost.
---
But he controlled himself immediately and stood up.
Yet before leaving-
he unknowingly looked back at her once.
And Aarohi caught him.
---
A victorious smile instantly appeared on her face.
"Dekha?"
(See?)
"Tum mujhe ignore nahi kar sakte."
(You can't ignore me.)
---
Vihaan looked away immediately.
But deep inside-
he knew she was right.
---
That night, while lying on his bed-
Vihaan kept remembering her smile again and again.
And for the first time in years-
sleep refused to come easily.
---
"Kya ho raha hai mujhe...?"
(What is happening to me...?)
He whispered to himself quietly.
Because no matter how much he tried-
he couldn't stop thinking about her anymore.
---
Days passed.
And slowly-
Aarohi became a part of his routine.
A dangerous part.
---
If she wasn't visible in college for even a few hours-
his mood would unknowingly worsen.
If she talked to another guy for too long-
something inside him burned painfully.
And every time she smiled at him-
his carefully built walls cracked a little more.
---
But Vihaan never showed it.
Never.
---
Because somewhere inside-
he was scared.
Scared that if he let himself fall-
there would be no coming back.
Days kept passing like this.
Aarohi was always around Vihaan somehow.
Sometimes annoying him intentionally.
Sometimes talking nonstop.
Sometimes just sitting beside him quietly for no reason.
---
And Vihaan-
even though he tried not to-
was slowly losing control over himself.
---
An entire year passed like that.
And now-
Aarohi had become a habit.
A dangerous one.
---
He started seeing her everywhere.
In the corridors.
In the library.
Near the basketball court.
Even in his thoughts.
---
Vihaan kept trying to control himself because his life was never simple.
Feelings were dangerous.
Attachments were dangerous.
And somewhere deep down-
he knew loving Aarohi could destroy him completely.
---
But no matter how much he tried-
he failed every single time.
---
Whenever Aarohi asked him something-
he answered her automatically.
Whenever she struggled in studies-
he helped her quietly.
---
"Koi problem ho padhai me toh puch lena."
(If you face any problem in studies, ask me.)
---
And every single time after saying things like that-
Vihaan hated himself more.
Because he was falling.
Hard.
---
Slowly, unknowingly-
he had already started planning a future with her in his mind.
He had decided.
At the end of the year-
he would finally tell Aarohi everything.
Everything he felt.
---
But before that could happen-
his world shattered.
---
One evening, Vihaan accidentally overheard a group of students talking.
And that's when-
he heard it.
The truth.
---
"Aarohi Mehra ne challenge liya hai."
(Aarohi Mehra accepted a challenge.)
"Wo Vihaan Singhania ko apne pyar me gira ke rahegi."
(She'll make Vihaan Singhania fall in love with her.)
---
At first-
Vihaan couldn't believe it.
---
But then more people laughed about it.
Talked about it.
As if his feelings were some joke.
Some game.
---
And within seconds-
his eyes turned blood red with rage.
---
Everything suddenly made sense to him.
Her following him everywhere.
Her fake care.
Her fake smiles.
Her fake love.
---
Or at least-
that's what he forced himself to believe.
---
Then he found out something else.
Aarohi Mehra was planning to propose to him publicly on the last day before vacation.
---
And that day-
something inside Vihaan completely broke.
---
But instead of confronting her-
he did something worse.
---
He started behaving even softer with her.
Started talking to her more.
Laughing slightly around her.
Giving her hope.
---
Because now-
he wanted her to propose.
In front of everyone.
---
So he could destroy her exactly the way she destroyed him.
---
Finally-
the last day arrived.
The entire college ground was decorated because of the annual celebration.
Students were gathered everywhere excitedly.
Music.
Lights.
Noise.
---
And in the middle of all that-
Aarohi stood there nervously holding a rose.
Her heartbeat was uncontrollable.
But her eyes only searched for one person.
Vihaan.
---
The moment he arrived-
everyone's attention shifted towards them.
Whispers spread instantly.
Because everyone already knew what was about to happen.
---
Aarohi gathered all her courage and stepped forward.
She looked directly into Vihaan's eyes.
And then softly smiled.
---
"Dekho..."
(Look...)
"Main jaanti hoon tum thode akdu ho..."
(I know you're a little arrogant...)
"Par handsome bhi ho..."
(But you're handsome too...)
---
Some students laughed softly.
But Aarohi ignored everyone.
Her eyes never left Vihaan.
---
"Mujhe nahi pata kab aur kaise..."
(I don't know when or how...)
"Lekin main tumse pyar karne lagi hoon..."
(But I fell in love with you...)
---
Vihaan stayed completely silent.
His expression unreadable.
---
Aarohi took a deep breath.
Then finally asked-
"Toh kya tum mera proposal accept karoge?"
(So... will you accept my proposal?)
---
The entire college went silent.
Everyone waited for Vihaan's answer.
---
But then suddenly-
Vihaan spoke calmly.
"Proposal toh ghutno pe baith kar karte hain."
(People usually propose while kneeling.)
---
Aarohi looked at him for a second.
And then smiled brightly.
"Bilkul."
(Of course.)
---
Without hesitation-
she slowly sat down on her knees in front of him.
Completely unaware-
that the next few moments were about to destroy her entire world.
Vihaan slowly bent down towards Aarohi.
For one second-
Aarohi's eyes filled with hope.
She thought maybe...
maybe he was finally going to accept her feelings.
---
But the very next second-
Vihaan harshly pushed her back.
Hard enough to break her completely.
---
Aarohi lost her balance instantly.
Shock covered her face.
---
Vihaan looked at her with burning rage in his eyes.
"Tumhe kya lagta hai?"
(What do you think?)
"Tum Vihaan Singhania ko apne pyar me gira logi?"
(You'll make Vihaan Singhania fall in love with you?)
"Bilkul nahi."
(Never.)
"Aisa mumkin hi nahi hai."
(That is impossible.)
---
The entire college stood there silently watching everything.
---
"Hato yaha se."
(Get lost from here.)
"Tum game khel rahi thi mere saath."
(You were playing a game with me.)
"You are fake."
---
Every single word felt like a knife inside Aarohi's chest.
---
Vihaan turned around angrily and started walking away.
As if none of this affected him.
As if he wasn't breaking from inside too.
---
Aarohi quickly stood up.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
Around her-
students had already started whispering.
Some were laughing.
Some were making fun of her.
But at that moment-
she didn't care about anyone.
Only Vihaan.
---
She ran towards him and held his hand tightly.
"Haan maine challenge liya tha, Vihaan..."
(Yes, I accepted the challenge, Vihaan...)
"Par ab main tumse sach me pyar karti hoon..."
(But now I truly love you...)
---
Her voice trembled badly.
"Maine tumse sach me pyar kiya hai..."
(I really loved you...)
"Please ek baar meri baat toh suno..."
(Please listen to me once...)
---
But Vihaan didn't listen.
Not a single word.
Because anger had already blinded him completely.
---
He jerked his hand away harshly-
and pushed Aarohi back again.
This time harder.
---
Aarohi lost her balance and fell directly into the mud beside the ground.
Gasps spread around instantly.
And then-
laughter.
---
"Dekho..."
(Look...)
"Ye aayi thi Vihaan Singhania ko apne pyar me girane..."
(She came to make Vihaan Singhania fall in love with her...)
"Par khud kichad me gir gayi."
(But she herself fell into the mud.)
---
More laughter echoed around her.
Cruel.
Humiliating.
Painful.
---
Aarohi's hands trembled while tears kept falling nonstop.
At that moment-
she didn't feel heartbroken.
She felt destroyed.
---
Just then Sana rushed towards her quickly.
"Sambhal Aarohi..."
(Get up, Aarohi...)
---
Sana helped her stand up while glaring angrily at everyone around them.
But Aarohi couldn't even hear anything anymore.
Her eyes only searched for Vihaan.
---
And he left.
Without looking back even once.
---
One by one, everyone slowly went home.
But Aarohi stayed there outside the college gate for hours.
Waiting for him.
Because no matter how much he hurt her-
she still couldn't live without him.
---
But later she found out-
Vihaan had already left long ago.
---
That completely shattered the little hope she still had left.
---
She returned home crying uncontrollably.
Again and again she called him.
But he never answered.
Not even once.
---
That entire night-
Aarohi kept crying while staring at her phone helplessly.
---
And finally-
with swollen eyes and trembling hands-
she made a decision.
---
"Kal main sab kuch clear kar dungi..."
(Tomorrow I'll clear everything...)
"Chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye..."
(No matter what happens...)
Because she still believed-
if Vihaan listened to her once properly-
he would understand that her love was never fake.
Sorry for the late update.....