Chapter 20
586 Words
Arohi had always been passionate about music. The violin was her solace, her escape, and when she joined university, she immediately sought a way to stay connected to it.
That’s how she ended up in the university’s drama club. She had no interest in acting, but when she found out they needed someone for background music, she knew she had to be a part of it.
The club’s president, Arjun, was a final-year student—confident, charming, and immensely talented. He was well-respected by everyone in the club, but Arohi only saw him as a senior at first.
That changed the day he auditioned her.
Her fingers danced over the violin strings, her music filling the room with hauntingly beautiful notes. When she finished, there was a heavy silence. Then, Arjun smiled.
“You’re in,” he had said, and for some reason, his approval made her heart flutter.
As the months passed, Arjun and Arohi grew closer. He was patient, understanding, and always encouraged her to push past her limits. Somewhere between rehearsals and long late-night conversations, they fell in love.
By the time Arohi was in her final year, she couldn’t imagine a life without him.
That’s when they decided—it was time to tell their families about their relationship.
Everything felt perfect. Their future was just beginning.
Before they could speak to their parents, Arjun left for a short holiday in Australia.
“I’ll be back in two weeks,” he had told Arohi, holding her hand. “And then we’ll figure everything out together.”
She had smiled, squeezing his fingers. “Just come back soon. I’ll miss you.”
But Arjun never came back.
A few days into his trip, Arohi received the devastating news—Arjun had died in a skydiving accident. His parachute malfunctioned, and his body was never found.
For weeks, she refused to believe it. She waited for a phone call, a message, anything. But reality was cruel. Arjun was gone.
Her world collapsed.
She couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Everything reminded her of him. The places they had been to, the music they had shared, the love they had built—now reduced to nothing but memories.
And now, years later, the man she mourned was standing right in front of her.
Arohi’s eyes fluttered open. Her heart pounded in her chest.
She saw him.
Arjun.
It wasn’t a dream. He was real. He was standing there, looking at her with desperate, pleading eyes.
“No…” Arohi whispered, panic gripping her.
Her breath came in short gasps, her vision blurry with shock.
She scrambled back, then turned and ran—straight into Ishaan’s arms.
Her body trembled violently as she clutched onto him.
“You’re not Arjun,” she choked out, her voice raw with fear. “Leave me alone.”
Arjun took a step forward, his expression pained.
“Arohi, it’s me,” he said softly. “I can explain everything.”
Ishaan, who had been standing frozen in confusion, finally found his voice.
“You should leave,” he said firmly, stepping in front of Arohi. “She needs to calm down first.”
Arjun hesitated. His eyes lingered on Arohi—her terror, her confusion—but he nodded.
“I’ll be back,” he promised, before walking away.
As the door clicked shut, Arohi clung onto Ishaan, her entire world spinning out of control.
How was Arjun alive?
And if he had been alive all this time…
Where had he been?
- Writer
