MEIN HOON NA

Part 1

AUTHOR'S POV:

It was a pleasant day, with a light breeze carrying the warmth of the sun. A girl stood in front of a mirror, adjusting the pleats of her beautiful lehenga choli. The fabric shimmered in the light, highlighting her elegance. Her beauty was undeniable, but today, her expression was pensive, her thoughts distant. She was none other than Dr. Aarohi Goenka. The excitement of the day—her engagement—didn't seem to fully penetrate the cloud of emotions swirling inside her.

Her eyes shifted from the mirror to the photo of her parents, framed and placed on a table nearby. Her heart squeezed at the sight. Taking a deep breath, she walked over, her fingers brushing the edge of the photo frame gently. The image of her mother and father smiling back at her brought back memories she hadn't visited in a long time.

"Aap dono dekh rahe hain, na?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes began to well up, the unshed tears glistening in the soft light. "Aaj meri sagai hai... main bohot khush hoon." She tried to smile, but her lips quivered. "Kaash aap yahan hote... mere saath. Sab kuch kitna alag hota. Hope aap dono bhi bohot khush honge, jahan bhi hain." Her fingers traced the outline of her mother's face in the photo. "I love you... and I miss you so much," she whispered softly, a tear finally escaping down her cheek.

She stood there for a moment longer, letting the wave of sadness wash over her before blinking back her tears and straightening her shoulders. It was a happy occasion, she reminded herself. She had to stay strong.

The time came for her to descend the stairs, where the engagement ceremony would take place. Aarohi walked down, her steps graceful but her mind still lingering on her parents. The room was decorated with flowers and lights, the air buzzing with the excitement of family and friends. But even in the midst of it all, she felt a strange emptiness.

Neil stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes lighting up as he saw her approach. A smile spread across his face, one filled with admiration. "You look stunning," he said softly when she reached him, his gaze warm.

Aarohi blushed, feeling her heart flutter. "You too don't look bad " she replied, trying to shake off her lingering melancholy. For a brief moment, the tension inside her eased, and she allowed herself to smile.

The ceremony began, and everything seemed perfect. Neil held her hand as they stood in front of the gathered guests. He reached for the ring, his hand steady as he prepared to slide it onto her finger. But just as their hands touched, a voice cut through the moment like a sharp blade.

"Neil," Akshara's voice was firm, authoritative. Neil hesitated, his hand hovering over Aarohi's, and looked up at his sister-in-law."What is it, Bhabhi?" he asked, his brows furrowing in confusion as he stepped away from Aarohi.

Akshara walked toward him, her expression serious, holding a set of papers in her hand. "Mujhe yeh Aarohi ke room se mile. Main tumhe yeh zaroor dikhana chahti hoon." Neil took the papers, his confusion deepening. "What are these?" he asked, flipping through them quickly.

Akshara's tone was calm but firm. "Bhale hi Aarohi meri behan hai, but yeh galat hai. Tum samajhdar ho, Neil. Aage tumhari marzi hai."

Without saying anything more, Akshara turned and walked back to where the family stood, leaving Neil with the papers. As he scanned the documents, his face hardened. It felt like the ground had shifted beneath his feet. The papers detailed an arrangement regarding the hospital shares—25 percent of the hospital ownership was to be transferred to Aarohi. Anger surged through him, his mind spinning.

Why would Aarohi do this? Why didn't she tell him about these papers? Did she even care about him, or was this all about money? His heart raced as betrayal consumed him. The love he had felt just moments ago was overshadowed by bitterness and suspicion. His body moved before his mind caught up. In three swift steps, he reached Aarohi and grabbed her arm harshly, pulling her toward him. "Yeh sab kya hai, Aarohi?" His voice was low but seething with anger.