Chapter 7: When the Heart Fell Silent
The Malhotra mansion was unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight spilled through the curtains, touching the marble floors with gold. Aarohi stood by the window of her new room, still trying to adjust to the strange word—wife.
Her lehenga from the wedding now hung neatly in the wardrobe. Her sindoor was a faint line across her forehead, almost shy. Everything felt surreal — too beautiful, too fast, too unreal.
She smiled faintly as she poured herself some water. Six months, she whispered. Just six months to live a lifetime.
Downstairs, Vivaan was already causing chaos.
“Bhabhi! Breakfast is ready. Come save me before Maa makes me drink karela juice!” he yelled dramatically from the dining room.
Aarohi laughed softly. “Coming, Vivaan!”
She walked downstairs, her pastel suit brushing softly against her ankles. Mrs. Malhotra smiled the moment she saw her. “Aarohi beta, good morning. Sit, have some breakfast.”
“Good morning, Maa,” Aarohi said sweetly, taking her seat.
Vivaan leaned closer and whispered, “You know, I was telling Bhai last night—he’s turning soft already. You’ve got him wrapped around your finger.”
“Vivaan!” Reyansh’s voice came from behind, low and warning.
Vivaan grinned. “See? He even appears when I talk about him.”
Aarohi giggled, covering her mouth. Reyansh walked over, shaking his head. “Ignore him. He thrives on attention.”
“True,” Aarohi teased. “He’s basically a walking alarm clock.”
Vivaan gasped in fake offense. “Excuse me, Mrs. Malhotra Junior!”
Everyone laughed. Even Mr. Malhotra chuckled from behind his newspaper. It was one of those mornings that felt normal — like she really belonged here.
But normal never lasted long for Aarohi.
Halfway through breakfast, she felt it again — the tightness in her chest, the sharp pulse against her ribs. She placed a hand against the table, trying to steady herself.
Reyansh noticed instantly. “Aarohi?”
“I’m fine,” she tried to say — but her voice came out weak.
The next second, her vision blurred. The world tilted.
And then everything went black.
---
“AAROHI!”
Chairs scraped. Plates shattered. Reyansh caught her before she hit the floor, his arms wrapping around her limp body.
Her face was pale, her breathing shallow.
“Call the doctor, NOW!” he shouted, his calm completely gone.
Vivaan was already dialing numbers, panic written all over his face. “Doctor Sharma, it’s Vivaan Malhotra. Aarohi Bhabhi—she—she fainted!”
Mrs. Malhotra’s hands shook as she brought water. “Reyansh beta, keep her head up—yes, like that.”
Mr. Malhotra stood frozen for a moment before rushing to comfort his wife. “She’ll be fine. Breathe, Meera.”
Reyansh lifted Aarohi gently, carrying her upstairs to their room. His heart pounded wildly — the woman who smiled through everything, who laughed even when she was breaking, now lay motionless in his arms.
He placed her on the bed, brushing hair away from her face. “Aarohi, wake up… come on, open your eyes,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
Minutes later, the doctor arrived. He examined her quickly, checking her pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.
Reyansh’s jaw clenched as he waited. “What’s wrong?”
The doctor hesitated. “Mr. Malhotra… do you know about her condition?”
Everyone in the room froze.
Reyansh nodded slowly. “Yes. I know she’s… sick.”
Mrs. Malhotra gasped softly. “Condition? What condition?”
Reyansh turned to her, his eyes full of regret. “Maa, Aarohi has a heart disease. It’s… serious.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Mrs. Malhotra covered her mouth, tears spilling instantly. “Oh God… that sweet child.”
Mr. Malhotra looked shaken. “Why didn’t she tell us?”
“Because she didn’t want anyone to worry,” Reyansh said quietly. “That’s who she is.”
The doctor finished his check-up and looked at Reyansh grimly. “Her pulse dropped suddenly. It’s a warning sign. She needs to avoid stress, exhaustion, and—”
“Life?” Vivaan blurted, voice cracking. “Because she’s literally the happiest person here!”
The doctor sighed. “Happiness won’t harm her. But overexertion will. Keep her calm. Keep her loved.”
He packed up his things. “I’ll leave a few medications. She’ll wake up soon.”
Reyansh nodded, his throat tight. “Thank you.”
---
Fifteen minutes later, Aarohi stirred. Her lashes fluttered, her breath shallow but steady.
Reyansh sat beside her instantly. “Hey… you scared the hell out of us.”
She blinked slowly, trying to focus. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t,” he said softly, his hand brushing against hers. “Don’t say sorry. Just… don’t do that again.”
Vivaan sniffed from the doorway. “You nearly gave Bhai a heart attack too, Bhabhi.”
Aarohi smiled weakly. “I’m sorry, Vivaan.”
He crossed his arms. “No more sorries. Doctor’s orders. You’re not allowed to faint, stress, or act too adorable. It’s dangerous for our hearts.”
That made her laugh — a small, tired laugh that broke the tension.
Mrs. Malhotra came forward, tears still glistening in her eyes. She sat beside Aarohi, taking her hand. “You should’ve told us, beta. We’re your family now.”
Aarohi’s voice cracked. “I didn’t want you all to treat me differently.”
Mrs. Malhotra shook her head, stroking her cheek. “Different? You’ve brought love into this house, Aarohi. That’s all we see.”
Mr. Malhotra added, “From today, no more secrets. You’re our daughter. And daughters don’t fight alone.”
Aarohi couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Reyansh stood there, silently watching her cry in his mother’s arms. Something inside him shifted again — that strange pull toward her that wasn’t part of any contract.
---
Later that night, after everyone had gone to rest, Reyansh entered the room quietly. Aarohi was awake, sitting by the window again, wrapped in a shawl.
“You should be resting,” he said softly.
She smiled faintly. “I can’t sleep.”
He walked closer, hands in his pockets. “You scared everyone today.”
“I scared myself too,” she admitted, looking down. “Sometimes I forget my body’s not keeping up.”
Reyansh sighed, sitting beside her. “You don’t have to pretend anymore. Not with me. Not here.”
She looked at him, eyes filled with tears. “If I stop pretending, Reyansh… I’ll fall apart.”
He met her gaze steadily. “Then fall apart. I’ll catch you.”
The words hit her harder than she expected. No one had ever said something like that to her — not as a promise, but as a truth.
For a long time, neither of them spoke. The moonlight washed over them, gentle and forgiving.
After a while, Aarohi whispered, “You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“Everyone thinks I’m fragile… but I’m the only one who knows how strong my heart really is. Even broken, it’s still beating for the moments I love.”
Reyansh smiled sadly. “And maybe that’s why it’s the most beautiful heart I’ve ever known.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder quietly. “You don’t have to say things like that, you know.”
“I don’t have to,” he said. “I want to.”
Her eyes closed, exhaustion finally taking over. “Stay?” she murmured sleepily.
He looked at her — at the girl who had turned his perfectly organized life into chaos — and whispered, “Always.”
---
To Be Continued…
---
Write a comment ...