In the heart of chaos

Chapter 18

Aarohi made her way up the stone steps of the temple, her heart heavy with everything that had transpired in the past few days. The air was crisp and cool, the scent of incense drifting from the inner sanctum. She hoped this visit would bring her some peace, a moment to reflect and gather her thoughts away from the chaos.

As she entered the courtyard, she spotted a familiar figure kneeling in prayer. Kaushiki Malhotra, Rishi's mother, was deeply immersed in her offerings. Aarohi smiled softly, walking up to the older woman after a respectful pause. Kaushiki had been a patient at Sarvodaya Hospital under Aarohi's care, and over time, they had developed a bond that transcended the typical doctor-patient relationship.

"Namaste, Kaushiki Aunty," Aarohi greeted with a warm smile.

Kaushiki looked up, a radiant smile breaking across her face. "Aarohi, beta! What a lovely surprise to see you here." She patted the space beside her, motioning for Aarohi to sit.

As Aarohi settled beside her, Kaushiki immediately started talking, her excitement bubbling over. "You know, Aarohi, I've been thinking a lot about weddings lately. The flowers, the music, the ceremony... It's been such a long time since we've had a wedding in the family." She chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "And now, it looks like I'll get to witness one sooner than expected!"

Aarohi blinked in confusion. "Aunty, wedding? What are you talking about?"

Kaushiki clapped her hands together with enthusiasm. "Oh, Rishi didn't tell you? That boy is always so reserved! I guess he wanted it to be a surprise, but I can't contain it anymore!" She leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially, "He showed me a picture of you, Aarohi. Said you were the one. I was so happy! You'll be the perfect addition to our family."

Aarohi's heart skipped a beat, her brows furrowing in disbelief. "What?" she asked, her voice soft but edged with confusion. "Rishi said... what?"

Kaushiki, oblivious to Aarohi's growing shock, continued, "Oh, you should have seen him. He was so proud when he showed me that photo. And I thought to myself, 'Finally, my son has found someone.' I've always liked you, beta. You're smart, kind, and perfect for him."

Aarohi's stomach churned, her pulse quickening. This had to be some sort of misunderstanding. She hadn't even known Kaushiki was aware of her relationship with Rishi as colleagues, much less anything else. And now this?

"Aunty," Aarohi said carefully, "there's nothing between me and Rishi. We're just colleagues. I don't know why he would say something like that, but it's not true."

Kaushiki's face fell, her joyous expression giving way to confusion. "What do you mean? He showed me your photo... He said you two were..."

"It's not true," Aarohi repeated, more firmly this time. "Whatever Rishi told you was a misunderstanding or a lie. There's nothing between us."

Kaushiki's eyes widened, and she placed a hand on her chest, clearly startled by Aarohi's words. "Oh, dear. I... I must have misunderstood, then." She shook her head, still trying to process the revelation. "He wouldn't lie about something like this..."

Aarohi offered a tight smile, trying to soothe the older woman's shock. "Don't worry, Aunty. I'll speak to Rishi. I'm sure there's some explanation, but I promise you—there's no wedding."

---

Later that day, Aarohi stormed into the hospital, her mind racing. She was furious, her usual calm composure nowhere in sight. This was beyond professional; Rishi had involved his family, and that made it personal.

She found him in one of the hallways, reviewing a patient's chart. Without hesitation, she marched right up to him.

"Rishi," she said sharply, her voice cutting through the noise of the hospital.

He looked up, surprised by the sudden interruption. "Aarohi? What's going on?"

"Do you want to explain to me what in the world you've been telling your mother?" Aarohi snapped, her hands on her hips, eyes blazing.

Rishi blinked, caught off guard. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, really?" Aarohi crossed her arms, her tone biting. "Then why did I just come from the temple where your mother was talking about us getting married? About how you've been showing her my picture and telling her that we're together?"

Rishi's face paled slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise with an air of indifference. "Look, Aarohi, that's not exactly—"

"Not exactly what?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "Do you realize how inappropriate that is? What gives you the right to make up stories like this? You know perfectly well that there's nothing between us."

Rishi exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It wasn't intentional, okay? My ex, Maahi, came over, and I was frustrated. I didn't know how to get her to leave, and I... I panicked. I showed her a photo of you and said we were together."

Aarohi's jaw dropped. "You... what?"

"I didn't mean for it to get back to my mother," Rishi said, looking genuinely apologetic now. "I just wanted Maahi to think I had moved on. It was a stupid, impulsive decision."

"Stupid?" Aarohi echoed, her voice incredulous. "Rishi, do you even understand how disrespectful that is? You don't just use people like that to get out of your personal mess."

"I know," he said quietly, guilt seeping into his tone. "I messed up, Aarohi. I really did. I'm sorry. I'll tell my mother the truth and clear this up. I just didn't think it would spiral like this."

Aarohi shook her head, still fuming. "You better fix it, Rishi. I don't care what your issues are with your ex, but don't ever drag me into something like this again."

He nodded, his face serious. "I will. I promise."

But even as he said it, Aarohi couldn't shake the feeling that something had fundamentally shifted between them. What had started as a contentious, professional rivalry was quickly spiraling into something much messier, and she wasn't sure how to navigate the tangled web they had both inadvertently created.

With one last glare, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Rishi standing there, wondering how he had managed to make things even more complicated.