Chapter 2

Roohi's POV 

Years of waiting, of hoping, of trying to move on but failing miserably each time I saw that stupid smile of his. All those years and nothing had changed.

I sighed, taking a sip of my drink, trying to shake off the overwhelming feeling of disappointment. Why couldn’t I just let him go? Why couldn’t I be like Mihir and Gaurvi, finding love and happiness with someone who actually wanted me back?

I was lost in the man and just then I heard another voice. “I saw you looking at him again.” 

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just... lost in thought, I guess.”

Mihir raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Roohi, come on. We both know you’re not fine. You’ve been hung up on Vihan for as long as I can remember, and he still doesn’t see it. Don’t you think it’s time to do something about it? Tell him how you feel, or let him go.”

I bit my lip, my chest tightening. “I’ve thought about it. A hundred times. But what if it ruins everything? What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

“And what if he does?” Mihir countered, his voice gentle but firm. “You’ll never know unless you take the risk.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. I wasn’t brave like Mihir. I wasn’t the type to take risks, especially not with someone as important to me as Vihan. The thought of losing him—even as a friend—was too terrifying to face.

Mihir sighed, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Roohi, I love you. But you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You deserve to be happy, and if Vihan can’t give you that, then maybe it’s time to move on.”

“I know,” I whispered, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. “But how do I move on from someone who’s been such a big part of my life? Could you have moved on if you were not getting married to Gaurvi?”

He reached out and squeezed my hand. “You are right!! I might have gone mad... Anyway, whatever happens, you’ve got me and Gaurvi. We’re always here for you.”

I nodded, grateful for his support, even though I knew that letting go of Vihan wasn’t something I could do overnight. It would take time—if it ever happened at all.

As Mihir walked away, I stole one last glance at Vihan. He was still laughing with the women around him, completely oblivious to the fact that the girl who loved him more than anyone else was standing just a few feet away.

 Maybe it was time to stop waiting for Vihan to see me.

But as I stood there, watching him, a part of me still couldn’t let go. Not yet.

Not when there was still that tiny, stubborn hope that maybe—just maybe—things could be different.

I stayed at the ceremony for as long as I could, mingling with guests, dancing to the popular dance numbers, and trying my best to ignore the ache in my chest.

*******

As the night wore on, my parents introduced me to a guy that my maternal uncle (mamu), Sujoy uncle suggested. 

He was a very eligible bachelor who was perfect for me according to them. 

" Hey, I am Garvit Tandon, friends call me Garv. " He said.

" Hi! Roohi Kapoor" I replied. 

 Mamu was telling me about him, but I was not listening to a word of it. 

" Oh, I am sorry, Mamu, but I need to talk to Mihir regarding something important; I will come back after that. " I said, looking at me, and he raised his eyebrow and nodded with a knowing smile. 

" Yeah, sure, I understand, there is no hurry; we will continue this meeting at home in a day or two now; as it is, these things should be discussed in a calm environment. " He said looking at me. I nodded at him, gave a polite smile to that man, and excused myself. 

Oh, God! I was getting sick of this matchmaking my family had been doing for me. Everyone was after my life. 

Only I knew how I was handling the pressure, but the weight of my emotions became too much to bear when I saw him flirting with every girl at the function. 

Eventually, I slipped out of the mansion and went into the cool night air, seeking some quiet away from the noise and laughter. 

“Roohi!” a familiar voice called out, making me stop on the track.

I turned to Mahi, my sister-in-law, walking toward me, her beautiful lehenga shimmering under the lights. She was glowing, radiating happiness as my brother loved her, and also because her brother, Mihir, was getting married today. 

“You okay?” she asked, concern flickering in her eyes. 

" I am fine, bhabhi. I just needed some fresh air. Don't worry about me,  just enjoy the Sangeet,"  I said, and she left after smiling at me. 

I found a secluded spot in the garden, beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, and sat down on a stone bench.

It was peaceful here, away from the celebration, but my thoughts were anything but calm. I closed my eyes, leaning back against the bench, and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

Why did love have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t Vihan just see what was right in front of him?

Mihir’s words echoed in my mind: You need to decide, Roohi. Tell him, or move on.

But how could I do either when my heart refused to let him go?

“Roohi?”

The voice startled me, and I opened my eyes to see Vihan standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets.

“Roohi!! I’ve been looking for you,” he said, a lopsided grin on his face. “You disappeared on me.”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “I didn’t think that you would notice. You seemed pretty busy.”

He chuckled, walking over and sitting down beside me on the bench. “Yeah, well, you know how it is. Everyone wants a piece of me tonight.”

I rolled my eyes. Typical Vihan!