Invisible in His World
926 Words
Chapter 3 — Invisible in His World
“Get ready.”
Armaan Malhotra’s voice came without warning—cold, distant, leaving no room for questions.
Aarohi Sharma looked up from where she sat, her fingers tightening slightly over the fabric of her dress.
“…Me?”
---
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
His silence was answer enough.
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“You’re coming with me.”
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For a brief, foolish second—
Something inside her stirred.
A small spark.
Fragile.
Dangerous.
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Hope.
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Maybe…
Maybe he was trying.
Maybe today would be different.
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“…Okay,” Aarohi said softly, rising to her feet.
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The drive was long.
Or maybe it only felt that way.
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The silence inside the car was suffocating, pressing down on her chest with every passing second.
Aarohi sat beside him, her hands resting in her lap, fingers nervously twisting together.
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Say something.
Anything.
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“Where are we going?” she asked quietly.
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No response.
Not even a glance.
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It was like speaking to a wall.
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Her gaze dropped, teeth pressing lightly against the inside of her cheek.
Of course.
Why would he answer?
Why would he acknowledge her at all?
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When the car finally came to a stop, Aarohi stepped out slowly—
And froze.
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Lights.
Music.
People.
So many people.
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An elegant building stood before her, glowing under warm golden lights, filled with laughter and conversations that felt distant—like a world she was never meant to enter.
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A business gathering.
His world.
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A world where she didn’t belong.
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“Stay quiet.”
Armaan’s voice cut through her thoughts.
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She turned toward him.
He wasn’t even looking at her.
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“Don’t embarrass me.”
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The words were calm.
Controlled.
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And yet—
They hurt more than anger ever could.
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“I won’t,” Aarohi whispered.
Even though she no longer knew what counted as embarrassment.
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The moment they stepped inside, attention shifted.
Not to her.
To him.
---
People approached him with ease.
Respect.
Admiration.
Interest.
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And he responded just as effortlessly.
Confident.
Composed.
Untouchable.
---
Like this was his world.
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Like he ruled it.
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And Aarohi—
She followed behind him.
Careful.
Quiet.
Invisible.
---
“And this is…?”
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The question came from a man standing beside them.
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Time slowed.
---
Aarohi felt it—
That small, fragile pause.
The moment where everything could have changed.
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Where she waited.
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Where she hoped.
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Just a little.
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Maybe he would say it.
Maybe he would acknowledge her.
Even once.
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Armaan looked at her.
Briefly.
His gaze unreadable.
Cold.
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And then—
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“Someone from home.”
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That was it.
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No name.
No identity.
No place.
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Just…
Someone.
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The man nodded, already losing interest.
The conversation moved on.
Effortlessly.
Carelessly.
---
Like nothing had happened.
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Like she hadn’t just been erased in front of everyone.
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Something inside Aarohi cracked.
---
Small.
But deep enough to hurt.
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She stood there, forcing herself to remain still.
To not react.
To not let it show.
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Because reacting would only make things worse.
Wouldn’t it?
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“Stay here.”
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He didn’t wait for her response.
Didn’t check if she was okay.
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He simply walked away.
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Leaving her behind—
Like something placed and forgotten.
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Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
---
Aarohi stood near the corner, her fingers gripping the edge of her dress tightly.
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People moved around her.
Laughed.
Talked.
Lived.
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But not one of them stopped.
Not one of them looked at her.
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It was as if she didn’t exist.
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Until she heard it.
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A soft laugh.
Feminine.
Light.
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Aarohi looked up.
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And there he was.
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Armaan.
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Standing with a woman.
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She was beautiful.
Confident.
At ease.
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Standing closer to him than she should have been.
Closer than Aarohi had ever been.
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She smiled at him.
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And this time—
He didn’t look away.
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Didn’t ignore her.
Didn’t shut her out.
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He listened.
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Actually listened.
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A sharp pain tightened in Aarohi’s chest.
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So he could be like this…
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Just not with her.
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She watched as the woman reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm.
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And Armaan didn’t stop her.
Didn’t move away.
Didn’t react.
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As if it was normal.
As if she belonged there—
Beside him.
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And in that moment—
Something became painfully clear.
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That place…
That position…
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Was never hers.
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Aarohi turned away quickly, her vision blurring.
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Don’t cry.
Not here.
Not now.
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Not where she already meant nothing.
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She inhaled slowly, forcing the tears back, forcing herself to stay composed.
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Because if she broke here—
There would be no one to pick her up.
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For the first time—
She allowed herself to face the truth she had been avoiding.
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The truth she didn’t want to accept.
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She didn’t belong in his life.
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Not as his wife.
Not as someone important.
Not even as someone worth acknowledging.
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She was just—
A responsibility he never wanted.
A burden he couldn’t throw away.
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A mistake he was forced to keep.
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And the worst part?
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She was the only one who hadn’t realized it sooner.
- Writer
