In the heart of chaos

Chapter 15

The evening air was cool and crisp as Aarohi sat by the window in her room, sipping on a cup of chai. Udaipur had always been home, but after so many years in Mumbai, she had grown accustomed to the city's fast-paced life. Still, the Goenka house had a way of making her feel at peace, despite the emotional whirlwinds that had brought her back.

A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. Aarohi glanced up to see Akshara standing in the doorway, holding a tray with two cups of tea. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice calm, but there was a slight tension in her eyes.

Aarohi nodded, motioning for her to come in. "Of course, come in."

Akshara placed the tray down and sat across from Aarohi, her eyes scanning the room, noticing the unpacked suitcase in the corner and the scattered photographs of their family. She reached out for one of the cups and took a small sip before setting it down again.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important," Akshara began, her voice soft but firm.

Aarohi raised an eyebrow, sensing that the conversation was going to be more than just a casual chat. "What's on your mind?"

Akshara hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I've been thinking... about everything that's happened since you came back. The family's attention is on you, and I know how overwhelming that can be. Especially with how things are... between you, me, and Abhimanyu."

Aarohi stiffened at the mention of Abhimanyu, her face hardening slightly. "If this is about him—"

"It's not just about him," Akshara quickly interjected, her tone more pleading. "It's about the family, Aarohi. They're all focused on you right now. Papa, Kairav, Vansh... even Dadi. And... well, I feel like they've forgotten about me."

Aarohi's eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. "What are you trying to say, Akshu? That I should just leave so they can turn their attention back to you?"

Akshara swallowed, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I'm not saying it like that. I just... I think it would be easier for everyone if you went back to Mumbai."

Aarohi blinked, taken aback. "Easier for whom? For you?"

Akshara sighed, guilt creeping into her expression. "Aaru, I don't mean to sound selfish. But ever since you came back, there's been tension—between you and me, between you and Abhimanyu. It's affecting everyone. I thought maybe... if you went back to Mumbai, the Goenkas would stop worrying so much about you and... things might calm down."

Aarohi let out a dry laugh, setting her tea aside. "So you want me to disappear so they can focus on you and Abhimanyu? Do you even hear how that sounds, Akshu?"

Akshara flinched at Aarohi's harsh tone, her eyes watering slightly. "It's not like that... I just think everyone would be happier. You were doing so well in Mumbai—you had your own life there. Why would you want to stay here in Udaipur, where everything reminds you of the past?"

Aarohi shook her head in disbelief. "Because this is my home, Akshu. Udaipur is as much my home as it is yours. Just because I left for a while doesn't mean I don't belong here anymore."

Akshara's voice cracked as she tried to reason with her sister. "Aaru, I'm not asking you to leave forever. Just... give it some time. Let things settle. The family is already strained as it is—"

"Because of you!" Aarohi snapped, cutting her off. "This whole mess started because of you and Abhimanyu. You think going back to Mumbai is going to solve everything? Do you really believe that?"

Akshara's face fell, and she looked away, guilt washing over her. "I don't know... I just want peace. For everyone."

Aarohi stood up, crossing her arms. "You want peace? Then start taking responsibility for your actions, Akshu. Stop running away every time things get hard. I'm not going anywhere just because it makes you uncomfortable."

Akshara's eyes filled with tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Aaru... I didn't mean to make things worse."

Aarohi softened slightly, seeing her sister's distress, but the hurt still lingered in her heart. "Look, I get that things are complicated between us. But asking me to leave isn't the solution. We need to deal with this head-on, not run from it."

Akshara nodded, wiping her eyes. "You're right. I just... I don't know how to fix this."

Aarohi sighed, sitting back down. "Neither do I. But we'll figure it out. Together, as a family. It's not going to be easy, but leaving Udaipur isn't going to solve anything."

Akshara nodded slowly, her heart heavy with regret. "I just want things to go back to how they were."

Aarohi gave her a small, sad smile. "So do I. But that's not going to happen. We have to move forward from here."

Silence filled the room as both sisters sat, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. They had been through so much together, but this moment felt like a turning point—a realization that no matter how much they loved each other, the path ahead wouldn't be easy.

After a while, Akshara stood up, her voice quiet. "I'll leave you to rest. Thanks for listening, Aaru."

Aarohi nodded, her eyes softening. "Take care, Akshu."

As Akshara left the room, Aarohi leaned back in her chair, staring out the window once again. The conversation had been draining, but she knew one thing for certain—she wasn't going to run away from her problems. Not this time.

Mumbai could wait.