CHAPTER59 [SHE WANT TO GO BACK]
Everyone gathered around the dining table.
The table was filled with all of Rhea's favourite dishes.
The moment she looked at the food, her eyes lit up.
"Ahh... Mom!"
"You made all my favourite dishes."
"I love you!"
Anjali smiled lovingly.
"Of course."
"My daughter is finally home after so many years"
"This much was the least I could do."
Rhea immediately hugged her from behind.
"I missed your food so much."
Everyone laughed before taking their seats.
Aarohi quietly sat beside Sana, while Vihaan took his usual seat.
For the first time in days...
The dining table wasn't silent.
It was filled with laughter.
As everyone started eating, Sana suddenly looked at Rhea with a mischievous smile.
"So..."
"How's our Yash bhai doing?"
The moment Yash's name came up...
Rhea's cheeks turned pink.
She tried to hide her smile.
"He's... he's doing fine."
Sana immediately started laughing.
"Ohhh..."
"Someone is blushing."
Rhea quickly looked at Aarohi.
"Bhabhi..."
Aarohi couldn't help but smile.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Vihaan smiled faintly while quietly looking at his plate.
Anjali shook her head dramatically.
"Alright, enough teasing."
"Eat your food."
"From tomorrow, wedding shopping starts."
"So everyone needs their energy."
Everyone nodded and continued eating.
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After lunch...
Everyone shifted to the living room.
Rhea was sitting beside her mother while Aryan was teasing her about the wedding.
Mr. Singhania was reading a few wedding invitations.
Vihaan had stepped outside to attend an important phone call.
A few moments later...
Aarohi slowly walked into the living room.
She stood there quietly.
Everyone looked at her.
She took a deep breath.
"Aunty..."
"I think it's time for me to leave."
Anjali, who was cutting an apple, froze.
The knife stopped midway.
The entire room fell silent.
"What do you mean, beta?"
Aarohi spoke calmly.
"I'll be leaving for London."
"I'm completely fine now."
"My work has already been delayed because of me."
"I just came to let you all know."
"My flight is tomorrow morning."
Before anyone could say anything...
Rhea stood up immediately.
"What?"
"Bhabhi, how can you leave now?"
"My wedding is next week."
"And you're talking about going back?"
Aarohi smiled softly.
"I'm really happy for you."
"And I truly wish you all the happiness in the world."
"But my hospital needs me."
"I've already taken too many days off."
Sana instantly stood up.
"Aaru, have you gone mad?"
"You're not going anywhere."
"Just call your hospital."
"They'll understand."
Aarohi simply smiled without replying.
Anjali slowly walked towards her.
She gently cupped Aarohi's face.
"Please, beta..."
"You came back after so many months."
"Don't leave so soon."
"We need you here."
Her voice became softer.
"...He needs you too."
Aarohi's eyes lowered.
She didn't answer.
Because she knew...
If she stayed...
Her heart would become weaker every single day.
And if she left...
Maybe it would hurt less.
Maybe.
Without saying another word...
She gave everyone a small smile and quietly walked upstairs.
Everyone remained silent.
Rhea looked at the staircase with worried eyes.
Sana sighed deeply.
Anjali's eyes became moist.
None of them knew...
That Aarohi wasn't trying to leave because she hated them.
She wanted to leave because she had spent most of her life believing she never truly belonged anywhere.
Now that people were finally treating her like family...
She didn't know how to accept it.
And somewhere deep inside...
She was terrified.
Terrified that if she accepted this love...
She might lose it all over again.
Vihaan stood at the door for a few seconds before finally knocking.
Knock... Knock...
Inside the room...
Aarohi was folding her clothes and placing them inside her suitcase.
Without looking back, she softly said,
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Aarohi turned around.
The moment she saw Vihaan standing there...
Her hands froze.
For a few seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Only silence filled the room.
Finally...
Vihaan broke it.
"Why?"
His voice was calm... but trembling.
"Why did you make this decision?"
"Did someone say something to you?"
"Is anyone bothering you?"
"Did Mom force you?"
"Are you uncomfortable here?"
"Tell me... I'll fix everything."
"Why do you suddenly want to leave?"
He asked everything in one breath.
Aarohi quietly looked at him.
Then she lowered her eyes and continued folding her clothes.
"This wasn't a sudden decision."
"It was always decided."
"I was supposed to return once I recovered."
"My work is waiting for me."
She closed her suitcase for a moment before adding,
"And..."
"I don't want to become a burden on anyone."
The moment those words left her mouth...
Vihaan immediately shook his head.
"No."
"No, Aarohi."
"Never."
"You can never be a burden."
"Not to this family..."
"And definitely not to me."
His voice started breaking.
"I know..."
"I don't deserve to stop you."
"I know I've lost every right."
"But please..."
"Don't leave."
"I'll do whatever you want."
"If you don't want to see me..."
I'll stay away.
"If you don't want to talk to me..."
I won't say a single word.
"If you want me to disappear from your life..."
I will.
"But please..."
"Don't leave this house."
"I..."
"I won't be able to survive it."
His eyes slowly filled with tears.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
Then another.
Aarohi looked at him.
Seeing him cry...
Something inside her heart cracked.
But before her heart could win...
She forced herself to stay calm.
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Do you remember..."
"That day?"
Vihaan's breathing stopped.
Aarohi continued,
"The day you left me"
"I begged you."
"I told you..."
'I won't be able to live without you.'
"My voice was shaking."
"I cried."
"I folded my hands."
"I asked you to listen to me just once."
"And do you remember what happened?"
"You still walked away."
Her eyes became moist.
"So tell me"
"Why didn't you stop that day?"
"Why didn't you stay?"
"Why didn't my tears matter then?"
Every word pierced his heart.
Vihaan slowly lowered his head.
He had no answer.
Because everything she said...
Was true.
After a few moments...
He slowly walked forward.
Then...
To Aarohi's shock...
He knelt down in front of her.
Aarohi's eyes widened.
"I know I'm not worthy of your forgiveness."
"I know saying 'sorry' will never erase what I did."
"I know I wasted every chance you gave me."
"I know I broke the heart of the only person who truly loved me."
"And I hate myself for that."
His voice completely broke.
"If you want to punish me..."
"I'll accept it."
"If you want to hate me forever..."
"I'll accept that too."
"But please..."
"Don't leave."
"I've already lost you once."
"I don't have the strength to lose you again."
For the first time...
The man whom the entire underworld feared...
Was crying like a helpless child.
Not because he had lost power.
Not because he had lost money.
But because he was terrified of losing the only person who had ever loved him unconditionally.
Aarohi just stood there.
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her suitcase.
She had imagined this moment so many times.
She had wanted him to regret everything.
She had wanted him to realize her worth.
But now...
When she finally saw him shattered in front of her...
Instead of satisfaction...
Her heart only felt pain.
She closed her eyes.
"No..."
She whispered to herself.
"Don't become weak again, Aarohi..."
But her trembling heart refused to listen.
To be continued...........