Roohi's POVThe shimmering lights of the Shah mansion were a dazzling backdrop to (Sangeet) one of the pre-wedding ceremonies of my friend, Mihir Shah. He looked undeniably handsome, dressed as a groom, his face radiating happiness as he prepared to marry the love of his life, Gaurvi. The air was thick with excitement, laughter, and the delicate scent of roses. The rhythmic beats of traditional drums filled the night, creating an atmosphere of pure joy.But my mind was far from the celebrations.As I stood there, my eyes drifted away from the dancing guests and vibrant colors, seeking out the one person I couldn’t help but look for... Vihan Singh Rathore. The man who had unknowingly held my heart captive for years. There he was, as magnetic as ever, leaning casually against the bar, his tuxedo tailored to perfection. His hair was tousled in that maddening way, like he’d just run his hand through it—a gesture that, despite myself, made my heart race every time.He flashed that danger
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 wha
Roohi's POV“So, what are you doing out here all by yourself?” he asked, his tone suddenly more serious.“Just needed a break from all the excitement, I am not as a party person as you are. It's so calm here.” I replied, keeping my gaze fixed on the twinkling lights above us.Vihan was silent for a moment, and when I finally looked at him, his expression was softer than I’d expected. Almost... thoughtful.“I missed my friends; I know Mihir is busy; Gauravi is not here, so I came looking for you,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.My heart skipped a beat, and for a brief, crazy moment, I wondered if this was it—the moment I’d been waiting for. But before I could say anything, Vihan’s phone buzzed, breaking the spell.He glanced at it and shook his head. “I should probably take this.”And just like that, the moment was gone.I watched as he stood up, flashing me an apologetic smile. “I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”I nodded, biting back the disappointment that thre
Vihan's POVNext day. MorningI was lost in a tantalizingly naughty dream, enjoying every second of it, when a sharp sound startled me awake. My phone was ringing, but as soon as I picked up the call, nobody replied from the other side. Opening an eye, I looked at the number; it was Mihir. What's wrong with him? The very next moment, my eyes blinked open, and the sight of the clock made my heart drop—11 AM!“Damn it!” I muttered, throwing the covers off. Two of my closest friends were getting married today, and since ceremonies were going on, I had to be there. I was already late. Mihir was probably fuming by now.Why didn't Roohi give me a wake-up call? I was thinking of packing my outfit for the wedding as I was sure I would not get any time to come back home and change my outfit. So I must pack it as well. As I rushed through my morning routine, one thought kept nagging at me—why hadn’t Roohi woken me up? She was always the one to ensure I didn’t screw up important days.Just
Vihan's POV But they both have been very close to each other. Almost a few years ago I had even become a bit jealous to see their friendship. They were always talking to each other all the time making Gaurvi and me feel left out. But they both were a bit different from Gaurvi and I. Gauravi and I were very outgoing, extroverts, fun loving, they both were more calm, level headed, a bit introvert. So maybe they were more comfortable with each other, but I was still hurt a bit. I shook my head and turned him to look at me. "But she didn't tell me..." I asked. " I guess she didn’t think you’d care because you were too busy with the pretty girls of the city..." He shrugged and said." Why is she not picking up the call?" I asked, getting hyper. "I guess she is with that guy..." He was saying but I was surprised to hear that. " What? She is with a guy? That's something new. I don't believe it. " I smiled confidently, but when the expression on Mihir's face didn't change, I felt that he
Roohi’s POV After the Sangeet NightThe sangeet had ended hours ago, yet here I was, staring at the ceiling of my room, the melodies and laughter still echoing faintly in my mind. My best friends were getting married tomorrow, and I was supposed to feel nothing but joy. But tonight, joy eluded me.Instead, my thoughts kept circling back to Vihan. It wasn’t new; he had this uncanny ability to occupy my thoughts even when I tried to push him away.This time, though, it wasn’t just about him—it was about letting him go. Could I? Could I ever?A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Letting him go, I thought. How could I let go of someone who had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember? Every little moment we had ever shared came rushing back, unbidden as if my mind had decided to replay the story of us in vivid detail. It was maddening and overwhelming.I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me one last time. Tomorrow would be another day, another chance to face the r
Roohi's POV I rolled onto my back, the memory shifting to one of our many family vacations.I was five, sitting in the middle of a room full of toys, my hair tied into pigtails, clutching a stuffed rabbit that had seen better days. Vihan had just barged into my house, his tiny face flushed with excitement, holding a box of chocolates he had stolen from his mother's drawer.“Roohi, let’s play doctor!” he declared, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He always loved playing doctor just like his dad. Even then, I suppose, his destiny was already calling to him.I had agreed without hesitation, of course, as I always did when it came to him. We’d spent hours diagnosing my stuffed rabbit with imaginary ailments, and he’d carefully “treated” it, offering chocolate pills as the cure. My rabbit survived every time, and my laughter echoed through the room. That became our favorite game while we used to enjoy the chocolates that were meant to be taken by my rabbit as medici
Roohi's POV The memories kept coming, each one painting a picture of a boy who had been everything to me—my best friend, my protector, the center of my universe. Middle school brought new adventures, but some things never changed. Vihan’s teasing, his protective streak, and those circles he couldn’t seem to stop drawing on my back—they were as constant as the rising sun.It was in middle school when I realized my feelings for Vihan weren’t just the fleeting crushes that came and went like passing seasons. It wasn’t just a crush anymore. It wasn’t just the way my stomach fluttered when he smiled or the way my heart raced when he drew those stupid circles on my back. It was deeper than that.It wasn’t about his mischievous grin or his endless charm, though those things didn’t help my cause. It was the way he made me feel safe, like the world couldn’t touch me as long as he was around.It was a quiet realization, the kind that settles deep in your chest and makes itself at home. I di
Vihan's POV The next few days were very busy as Dad was busy somewhere else, so I had the additional duty to take care of Mehul's uncle. Tami was on her duty as an intern so Mihir was usually with him. Mihir was very upset and since uncle was taking rest after having his meal and medicines, I asked him to come to my cabin so that we could talk. He was reluctant to leave his dad's side but came with me when I insisted. And when I asked him why he looked so stressed he told me everything and why he was feeling so guilty. I swear, I wanted to beat him, he was an idiot! I saw how possessive he was for Tami; I could see that he was suffering the same way I was, watching Parshav flirting with Tami and Roohi; if he liked her so much, why the hell did he do that?? It was such a stupid and drastic step. " Why the hell did you do it?? Are you out of your mind? Do you think Gauravi will be back to you if you divorce Tami? " I yelled at him. " What?? No!! I don't even want her back. I just w
Vihan’s POVThe hospital was returning to its usual rhythm, but there was an undeniable tension in the air. Roohi and I spent a lot of time with Mihir as he was going through so much. Roohi spent some time with Tami and uncle whenever she was was free. The hospital auditorium was buzzing with nervous energy as the new batch of intern doctors and dieticians gathered for their first official assignments. I had seen this happen every year—young faces, eager yet apprehensive, waiting to find out who they’d be training under.Among the other senior doctors present were me, Siddh, Parshav, and Roohi. Since Roohi was in a different specialty, she wouldn't be getting an assistant; the senior-most doctor in her department had already taken that role. But the rest of us were each getting interns.I leaned against the side of the stage, arms crossed, watching as the names were placed into a bowl. The selection process was designed to be random, to avoid bias. One by one, we would each pull th
Vihan's POV We wasted no time. Within minutes, Mehul uncle was in the cath lab.The room fell into an eerie silence, the next few hours felt like an eternity.Dad performed the angioplasty himself. A stent was placed, restoring blood flow. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. We had done it.But this was only the beginning. We all knew—the next 24 hours were critical.After stabilizing his condition, we shifted him to the CCU, where he remained under continuous cardiac monitoring. His vitals had stabilized, but the next 24 hours were critical.I finally stepped out to update the family.The waiting area was filled with people—Tami, Gautam uncle, and Siddh were there, their faces clouded with worry.As soon as they saw me, they rushed forward. "How is he?" Siddh asked urgently."It was a massive heart attack," I told them honestly. "If Tami hadn’t brought him in when she did, we might have lost him."Tami’s face crumpled, and she broke down in silent sobs.She covered
Vihan's POV I was in the hospital, going through a patient’s angiography report, when the doors of the cardiology department burst open all of a sudden, and Gautam's uncle stormed in. I knew something was terribly wrong. His face was pale, his breath uneven, and his usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen."Vihan, where is Vikram?"I looked up in surprise to see Gautam uncle, his face pale, his breath ragged. His usual composed demeanor was nowhere to be seen—there was an urgency in his eyes that sent a ripple of unease through me.I stood up immediately. "He’s in the OT. What happened, uncle?""It’s Mehul," he said, his voice almost breaking. "He’s not well... It looks like a cardiac arrest. I need you to make all the necessary arrangements. Fast!!" My blood ran cold for a second. Mehul uncle, my father’s best friend, my best friend’s father—someone I had known since childhood, this couldn’t be happening.I didn’t waste another second. "I’ll take care of everything." I said ins
Vihan's POV Next morningI was losing my mind, and I found myself pacing the length of my mansion, replaying every interaction I’d seen between Siddh and Roohi. It wasn’t that he was overly attentive, but he did seem to go out of his way to include her in conversations. Was I overthinking this? Or was Siddh hiding something?I called Mihir, he picked up the call." Hey, what's up?" He asked. " Where are you? When are you coming back? " " I am back, we came back last night. What happened? You sound anxious. " He asked. " Mihir, we need to talk; something is very serious; I am going mad. I need to ask you something. " " Sure come over to my office. " He said and I drove to meet him. He was waiting for me. " What is the matter? " He asked. I told him about the stalker and the gifts, cards, messages, etc., and also how I caught the man who delivered them. He was shocked to know that. " This is more than serious, Vihan. We must tell her family about it; it is not a small issue; what
Vihan's POV " I hope you are not angry with me now. I know Mihir is very upset with me. I will apologize to him when he calms down, but at least you should try and understand that he would be much happier with Tami as she adores him. I never loved him that way, he was always just one of my 3 Best friends." " Are you happy now? " I asked though I already knew the answer to the question. "I am at the top of the world." She replied with a genuine smile and I hugged her. " Can I ask you something?" I asked. Anything!! " “Gauravi,” I began nonchalantly, sitting beside her. “What’s the deal with Kabir?”Her eyebrows shot up, and her lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Oh? What’s with the sudden interest in Kabir?” she teased, her eyebrows wiggling. “Tired of chasing every girl in the city? Are you thinking of switching teams?” I rolled my eyes, but her teasing didn’t deter me. “Very funny, Gauravi. Just tell me what you know about him.”She ignored me, clearly enjoying herself. “
Vihan's POV I took the package inside, my heart pounding.Once I was alone, I tore the wrapping open. Inside was a white dress and an envelope.I opened it, pulling out the card.The words inside made my blood run cold.“I want to see you... Let's meet. I know there is no one special in life, so I want to be that person in your life. Wear this dress for me and, click a picture, put that up as your social media profile. I will come and meet you."I crushed the card in my fist, rage bubbling inside me.This wasn’t just admiration. This was a warning.Someone was watching Roohi. Someone who thought he had a claim on her.And I wasn’t going to let it go.Returning to the delivery man, I shoved the crumpled card into his hands.I asked the guard to look for any kind of identity card, he found his Adhar card and driving licence I told him to take it and took his phone number I told him to report to me as soon as he got any such package again.He nodded quickly, clearly terrified. “I’ll l
Vihan's POV Next morning It was early morning, and since I was too determined to catch that delivery man or stalker, I got ready and reached the hospital by half past Six. Once again, I hid myself and had a backup ready to catch any delivery man or stalker. In about 30 minutes, I saw someone approaching the department. He didn’t carry the tell-tale uniform of a delivery man or a florist. Everything about him screamed he was up to something wrong, he looked suspicious as he wasn’t walking like everyone else. He was sneaking — eyes darting nervously, his shoulders stiff, like he was carrying the weight of guilt.The man seemed to be in his late twenties, dressed casually in jeans and a dark blue hoodie that hung loose over faded jeans and a cap pulled low to shield his face. But it wasn’t enough. His movements gave him away. His gaze darted down one hallway, then another like he was searching for something — or someone. His left hand twitched at his side, and his right was grippin
Vihan's POV I grabbed a plate and started loading it with food, hoping it would distract me from the ridiculousness of the situation. But then, as if the universe wanted to test my patience further as if the situation wasn’t bad enough, Siddh picked up a piece of kebabs and offered it to her. “Roohi,” Parshav said, leaning closer than necessary, “You have to try this. It’s divine, the best on the menu.”And she took it? Did she actually let him feed her? Why?? Was that the last kebab in the party?? I stared, my grip tightening on the spoon I was holding. Did I accidentally walk into a historical drama where men fed women kebabs as a declaration of affection? Because this wasn’t normal.Siddh wasn’t far behind. “Try this stuffed naan, it’s perfect with the dal.” Here, let me get you some.”He reached over to her plate like it was the most natural thing in the world, and I swear I saw red.“Oh, how thoughtful,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe you should feed her too. Yo