AAROHI'S POV:

My alarm rang at exactly 8:00 in the morning. I hated mornings—they were noisy, restless, and far too demanding for someone who belonged to the night. Nights were my comfort: quiet, gentle, and wrapped in moonlight that made everything feel a little more alive.

But the world didn't adjust itself to my preferences. It ran on mornings, whether I liked it or not. So, with a tired sigh, I forced myself out of bed.

I dragged myself up and headed straight to the bathroom. I took a pretty long shower and then wore my dress. Today I wore a slightly more designer kurti than normal because today I was happy as Karan was coming back from his holidays.

I did my makeup carefully and left for college. The day was exhausting, as always. First came lectures, and then, till 5 p.m., my internship at the college hospital. But none of that mattered—because after all this, I was going on a date with Karan.

Karan Suryavanshi—my boyfriend.

He's practically an American kid. He said he was born in India, but when he was just two years old, his family shifted to the U.S. because his dad had incredible business opportunities there. Karan always wanted to pursue medicine in America, but his father was strongly against it. After a lot of arguments and negotiations, they finally reached a deal—if Karan wanted to study medicine, he had to do it from Udaipur, his birthplace.

So he agreed.

Now, he's in the final year of his master's, specializing in cardiology. He's twenty-five.

Yes, we have a five-year age gap, which might seem big for this generation, but here in Rajasthan, it's completely normal. 

We met during my fresher's party at college.

It was my very first day as a fresher, and he was part of the organizing committee. We had incredible numbers of eye contact, I noticed him pretty well. Back then, I was extremely awkward. I thought he was a creep and tried my best to brush him off.

But after two months of his quiet persistence, genuine conversations, and unexpected care... I finally said yes to a date with him.

And that one date changed everything between us. He later told me he had seen me dancing that night and fell in love at first sight.

------------------------------------------------------

I finally reached my college—RNT Medical College.

This place cost me my life... not in one moment, but slowly, piece by piece.

I had always wanted to become a doctor—to heal people, to give them hope. But dreams are never simple when you are born into a family like mine. Restrictions followed me everywhere, clinging tighter the more I tried to breathe.

I cleared NEET and secured this government medical college purely on merit. Yet, even after achieving what I had worked for relentlessly, my victory felt hollow. My father wasn't ready to let me leave home—especially not to Udaipur. After endless arguments, promises, and silent tears, he finally agreed.

But agreement came with conditions.

First condition: I would marry whoever he chose for me.
But now the problem is I fell in love! I'll convience him in everyway possible because, The man I love—Karan—is educated, intelligent, and brilliant in his field. He stands at the top of his class, and his family owns a successful business. I believed my father would agree to him eventually.

Second condition: I would never question his decisions again.
No arguments. No defiance. Just obedience.

My father—Yashvardhan Kapoor—is the biggest landlord in Ranakpur. Our family has lived there for generations. He often boasts that our ancestors were once close to the royal family, rewarded with vast land and wealth for their loyalty.

Even now, every month, he writes letters to the royal family—clinging to the hope of rebuilding that old connection, convinced it will bring him even more power and wealth. I know his intentions are driven by greed, but what can I do?

He is my father.

In society, he is respected, feared, and untouchable. He values his reputation above everything else.

So much so that if anyone dared to stain his image, he wouldn't hesitate—even to kill them.

My mother, my sister, and I have always lived in quiet fear of him. He never raised his hand against us, but his authority was heavier than violence. He hated questions. He despised disobedience. And that is why we learned to accept whatever he decided—without resistance.

Just to pursue the degree I wanted so desperately, I had to agree to these conditions.

Yet fear still gnaws at me.

What if, when the time comes, he refuses to accept Karan?

I can't live without him. I love him more than my own life. 

And if the day comes when I must choose—

I will run away with him.

No matter the cost.

-----------------------------

I entered the college, and my eyes searched for only one person.

And there he was—standing near our all-time spot, the Fairy Tree, smiling at me. We call it that because it's where we first met.
My bestest friend—Manav.

Manav Oberoi—a rich, spoiled, intelligent brat.

Sweet to the core, yet undeniably spoiled. If it weren't for him, I would've remained that quiet, innocent girl forever. He was the reason I tasted my first drink, partied for the first time, and did all those typical college-girl things I had only heard about.

And yet, I never felt unsafe with him.

Manav knew boundaries. He never forced me into anything—he only encouraged me to live, to laugh, to enjoy life without fear. The past two years of my life were so damn beautiful, all because of him... and of course, Karan.

We met on our very first day—on our way to the freshers' party.

It was my first day in college.

New city. New faces. New freedom—heavy and exciting at the same time.

I was on my way to the freshers' party, clutching my phone like it was my lifeline, completely lost. The campus felt huge, and I felt... small. Nervous. Overthinking every step, every breath.

That's when I saw the tree.

A large old tree stood slightly away from the crowd, its branches spreading wide like it was guarding secrets. Fairy lights were tangled around it, glowing softly as evening settled in. For a moment, the noise of the campus faded, and I stopped there—just staring.

"Freshers' party is that way, you know."

I turned around.

A boy stood there, hands casually tucked into his pockets, a crooked smile on his face. He looked confident—too confident for a first day—but his eyes were warm, curious, not judging.

"I know," I lied immediately.

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure you do."

I sighed. "Okay... I'm lost."

He laughed—not loudly, not mockingly. Just a light laugh, like he found my honesty refreshing.

"Thought so," he said. "Come on, I'm going the same way."

I hesitated for a second before nodding.

"I'm Manav," he said, walking beside me. "First year. And you look like you're one wrong turn away from calling your parents and going back home."

I smiled despite myself. "Is it that obvious?"

"Very."

We stopped again under the tree, the lights flickering softly above us.

"This," he said, pointing around, "is my favorite spot here it  Feels... different."

I looked up at the lights, then back at him. "Yeah. It does."

And just like that, without knowing it, we named it—
the Fairy Tree.

I didn't know then that this boy would become my safe place in college.
That this tree and this idiot would witness my laughter, my tears, my secrets.

---------------------

"You're late!" he said, putting on an exaggerated angry face.

"Sorryyy! I'll make it up to you, I promise," I said, pinching his cheek.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

"Listen... I have some bad news," he said in a very serious tone.

My heart skipped. "What?"

"Karan called." He took a deep breath.
"He wanted to tell you himself, but I guess you were busy this morning—taking a long shower and getting ready for him." He paused deliberately.

"He's coming next week, not today."

"What?!" I blurted out, pure disbelief flooding my voice.

"You're joking. You have to be," I said.

"No, Aaru," he replied firmly. "I'm serious. If you don't believe me, call him."

I was still processing when Manav's lips curved into a grin.

"But... there's good news too," he added.

I looked at him hopefully.

"He'll be shifting to Udaipur soon—with his family," he said. "Which means you'll finally get to meet them."

"And then..." he dragged the word playfully, "...you can finally get married—after clearing all the issues, of course."

He finished with a wink.

"Now I don't believe you at all. I know you," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Okay then—call him. Right here," he challenged.
"And if everything I said turns out to be true, you owe me a big one. A very big one," he added with a smug grin.

I took my phone out of my purse and dialed Karan.

No answer.

That's when it hit me—it would be around 3 a.m. in America if he was still there... and if Manav was telling the truth.

I let out a slow sigh.

Manav noticed immediately and gave me a knowing smirk.

"You still haven't won," I said, trying to sound confident. "It's not confirmed yet."

"Yes, yes," he replied casually, lifting his hands in surrender—but the grin on his face told a different story.

------------------------------

We went to our classes and attended all our lectures. After that, we said goodbye to each other. Manav was free for the day—he didn't have an internship—while I did, so I had to stay back at the college.

I made my way toward the hospital, thinking I'd try calling Karan again.

That's when I heard it.

A muffled sound—low, painful—coming from behind the building where I was standing.

Groans.

My steps slowed. Every instinct told me to walk away, but my feet moved on their own. What if someone needed help?

I followed the sound.

And what I saw next blew my mind—like a sudden whoosh, knocking the air out of my lungs.

There were four men... and one standing apart from them.

He was wearing a mask.

In his hand was a scalpel, pressed dangerously close to a man's neck. My breath caught in my throat.

 I couldn't see his face, but then when he turned,

I saw his eyes.

Cold. Sharp. Terrifying.

They locked onto mine.

A shiver ran down my spine so violently it felt like my body had frozen. I knew, right then, that I would never forget that look.

Those eyes terrified me.

And yet—oddly—

They felt... familiar like I have seen them somewhere.

The moment stretched for just a second too long. Fear snapped me back to reality.

I turned and ran.

As fast as I could.

There were four of them, and I was alone. I couldn't help that man like this. I needed help—guards, anyone.

But even as I ran, my heart pounding wildly—

Those eyes stayed with me.

Watching.

====================

I went back to the same place, this time with security guards.

But the moment I reached there, something inside me shattered.

There was no one.

No men. No mask. No scalpel.

Nothing.

The place was clean—too clean. Not a single sign that anything had happened there at all. For a terrifying moment, it felt like I had imagined everything. Like it had all been a dream.

The guards exchanged looks.

"There's no one here," one of them said irritably. "What are you talking about? Are you daydreaming or what?"

Their words stung, but I barely heard them.

Because the scene kept replaying in my mind—the scalpel at that man's neck, the danger in the air, the cruelty in those eyes. I was sure of what I had seen. No imagination could create something that real.

How could someone be so heartless? So cold?

I searched the area myself, walking around, checking every corner. But there was nothing. No blood. No signs of a struggle. No trace of them.

My head started spinning.

I couldn't understand what was happening—what I had seen, what had vanished. My mind felt numb, almost blank, as if it had reached its limit.

But one thing was certain.

It was real.

And no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I knew—

I hadn't imagined those eyes.

-------------------------

*notification popped up on my phone.

Leaving all the unanswered questions swirling in my mind, I glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number.

I ignored it.

Ping.

Another notification.

This time, it was a photo. Annoyed, I assumed it was spam and blocked the number.

Moments later,

One more notification popped up 

 I checked my phone again.

My heart skipped.

It was Karan.

He had sent a video to me.

That's when I realized—the earlier messages must have been from his new number.

I immediately opened the video because I thought he must me giving me surprise by coming here!

I opened the video.

The moment I saw it, my heart shattered.

My phone slipped from my hand and hit the ground. I didn't know what to do. My legs gave up on me, and I sank down right there—on the same spot where everything had gone so wrong earlier.

It felt cruelly ironic.

Everything was falling apart.

My chest ached as if something inside me had been torn open. My eyes burned, filling with tears I couldn't stop. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, trying to breathe, trying not to break.

But it hurt too much.

And no matter how hard I tried to hold myself together—

I was falling apart.

"No... no... I don't believe it," I whispered between sobs, my words breaking apart with my breath. I couldn't think anymore. My mind had completely shut down.

I picked up my phone and started calling him—again and again.
Once.
Ten times.
Twenty-three times.

No answer.

I was crying like I'd shattered into pieces, and each broken piece felt like it was cutting straight through my heart. The pain was unbearable, tearing me apart from the inside.

Desperate, I opened the video again, forcing myself to believe there had been some mistake—some misunderstanding.

But there wasn't.

I could see him clearly.

His face.
He kissing someone                                                                                                        Him fucking someone else.

My chest tightened painfully.

It was real.

And in that moment, something inside me broke beyond repair.

I sat there bawling my eyes.

===================

Ring... Ring...

My phone rang.

I picked it up instantly, my heart leaping with false hope—but it wasn't Karan.

It was Mom.

I didn't have the strength to talk to her. Not right now. I put the phone on silent.

But she called again.

I forced myself to breathe, wiped my tears hastily, and answered—trying my best to sound normal, to not let her hear how broken I was.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hello, mammi," I replied, steadying my voice.

"Aaru," she said urgently, "tumhe abhi ke abhi ghar ke liye nikalna hoga. Abhi ke abhi."

Before I could ask anything—

The call ended.

I stared at my phone, my heart pounding wildly.

What did she mean?
What had happened?
Why was she in such a hurry?

Was everything okay at home?
Was my sister safe?

A hundred questions flooded my mind—none with answers.

I didn't wait.

I stood up and ran—straight toward the bus stop, not thinking, not stopping, my heart racing faster than my feet.

At 5:00 p.m., I boarded the bus to Ranakpur.

and left for home.

----------------------

The bus started moving.

And that's when everything hit me at once.

I sat by the window, clutching my bag to my chest like it could hold me together. People were around me—talking, laughing, living—and yet I had never felt more alone.

Mom's voice echoed in my head.

Abhi ke abhi ghar ke liye nikalna hoga.

No explanation. No reassurance. Just urgency... fear hidden beneath her words.

What happened at home?

My chest tightened.

And then—

Karan.

The video flashed in my mind without mercy. His face. His closeness. The betrayal I still couldn't accept.

My fingers dug into my palm as my breathing grew uneven.

No. Don't cry. Not here.

I pressed my lips together, forcing the sob back down. My throat burned, like I was swallowing fire. Tears blurred my vision, and I quickly turned my face toward the window so no one would notice.

Outside, the world moved on.

Inside me, everything was collapsing.

I covered my mouth with my hand as a broken sound tried to escape—just a tiny whimper—but I stopped it, biting down hard until it hurt. I wouldn't let anyone hear me. I couldn't.

My shoulders trembled anyway.

Silent tears slipped down my cheeks, one after another, unstoppable. I wiped them away angrily, ashamed of how weak I felt, of how helpless I was.

Mom's urgent call.
Karan's betrayal.
Fear for my family.
The future is slipping out of my grasp.

It was too much.

I curled into myself, forehead resting against the cold window glass, my reflection staring back at me—red eyes, pale face, a girl barely holding herself together.

Please... just let this stop, I begged silently.

But the bus kept moving.

And so did the pain.

I didn't scream.
I didn't cry out loud.

I just broke—
quietly, completely—
somewhere between Udaipur and Ranakpur.                                                      There was none of me left.

====================

I reached home.

But the sight in front of me made my heart race again.

So many cars were parked outside. Guards stood near the gate, alert and unfamiliar. My chest tightened instantly. My hands started trembling, my feet shaking with every step I took toward the door.

I knocked.

No answer.

I knocked again.

The door finally opened—and it was Mom.

She was smiling.

The relief hit me so hard that my knees almost gave up. I rushed forward and hugged her tightly—so tightly it felt like letting go would break me.

"Ma... Ma, is everything okay?" I cried, my words tumbling out between sobs. "Is everything alright? Where is Ishita di? What happened? Why did you call me so urgently and then hang up?"

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

She gently wiped them away and held my face.

"I'm really sorry," she said softly. "I know I scared you. I tried to tell you everything, but my phone battery died. And then suddenly dad said guest would be arriving soon, and I couldn't call you back. Now stop crying."

She kissed my cheek lightly, trying to calm me.

I felt a little relieved.

"Who are the guests?" I asked, forcing myself to breathe.

Before she could answer—

"Ma... Ma!"

Ishita di's voice echoed from inside the house.

Mom immediately turned and started walking away.

"You'll know everything soon," she said quickly over her shoulder. "Go freshen up and wear something nice—something traditional. Then come to the hall."

And with that, she left.

I stood there, confused, my mind racing again.

What was happening?

I did as she said and went to my room. I sat on the edge of the bed for a while, trying to calm myself down—but it was useless.

Nothing worked.

The pain in my chest refused to fade. Karan's betrayal, Mom's urgency, the guards outside, the unanswered questions—

Everything felt shattered.

And no matter how hard I tried—

I couldn't put myself back together.

----------------------------------

I went to the bathroom and locked the door behind me.

The silence there was heavy.

I turned on the tap, splashing cold water on my face, hoping it would wash away at least a little of the chaos inside me. When I finally looked up—

I barely recognized myself.

My eyes were red and swollen. My face looked pale, drained, tired in a way sleep could never fix. I stared at my reflection for a long moment, and suddenly, everything I had been holding back broke loose.

Tears spilled out.

Quietly.

I pressed my palms against the sink, lowering my head as my shoulders shook. I cried for Karan. For the betrayal that still felt unreal. I cried for Mom's call, for the fear it had planted in my chest. I cried because I was exhausted—emotionally, completely.

"Enough," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling.

I wiped my tears, took a deep breath, then another. I couldn't fall apart now—not anymore.

I washed my face again, this time more firmly, and looked at myself in the mirror.

Pull yourself together.

I stepped out and changed into a traditional dress—, elegant, the kind Mom always liked. As I wore it with shaking fingers, I forced my breathing to steady. I combed my hair neatly, applied just a little kajal, and straightened my shoulders.

By the time I was done, I looked calm.

Even if I wasn't.

With one last glance at the mirror,

I left my room and walked toward the hall.

=============================

And then—

I stopped.

The moment I entered, my breath caught in my throat.

Sitting there, on our sofa, were people I had only ever seen in pictures and news articles.

The royal family.

The room felt suddenly smaller, heavier, charged with authority. Guards stood discreetly near the doors. My heart began to race again.

And then my eyes landed on him.

Shivansh.

He sat slightly apart, composed, powerful, his presence impossible to ignore. He looked calm, unreadable—but when his gaze met mine—

Time froze.

My chest tightened.

I was in complete question. Why they were here?

=====================================

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I hope you liked this part.

I know it's pretty long, but I had to do it.

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