In the heart of chaos

Chapter 24

The Goenka family arrived at the grand Raj Malhotra mansion, where the 40th wedding anniversary of Kaushiki and Rajveer Malhotra was being celebrated. The evening was vibrant, with lights strung across the large garden, and guests from all corners of Udaipur gathered to celebrate the couple.

Aarohi stepped out of the car, dressed in an elegant teal saree that made her look effortlessly graceful. Suwarna and Manish were right behind her, followed by the rest of the Goenka clan. As they made their way into the venue, Aarohi felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. After the tense award ceremony with Abhimanyu, this event seemed like a much-needed break. But knowing that Rishi Malhotra would be here meant she had to brace herself for the inevitable banter.

"Look at the decorations," Suwarna admired, gazing around the beautifully lit area. "The Malhotras have really outdone themselves."

Aarohi smiled lightly but was soon interrupted by a loud, cheerful voice.

"Hey, Aarohi!"

She turned to see Ekansh, Rishi's younger brother, bounding toward her. Behind him were Isha and Prisha, both waving enthusiastically.

"You made it!" Isha said excitedly, giving Aarohi a quick hug.

"Of course, I did. Your parents are so kind, I wouldn't miss this," Aarohi replied warmly.

Prisha grinned. "You're basically family now, right?"

Aarohi shot her a confused look. "Uh, not quite. What do you mean?"

Before Prisha could respond, a voice chimed in from behind her.

"Family? Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Prisha. She's just a guest," Rishi said with a smirk, stepping into the group.

Aarohi narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms. "Oh, how could I forget? I'm just a *guest*, right? Like how you *accidentally* told your mother I was your girlfriend?"

Rishi's smirk faltered slightly, and Ekansh laughed. "Ooh, Rishi, looks like you're in trouble."

Before Rishi could respond, Kaushiki and Rajveer appeared, greeting the Goenkas warmly.

"We're so glad you all could come," Kaushiki said with her signature kind smile. She turned to Aarohi and gently squeezed her hand. "It's lovely to see you again, dear."

Aarohi returned the smile, appreciating the warmth from Rishi's mother, though the previous misunderstanding still lingered. "Thank you for inviting us, Aunty. It's an honor to be here."

As the evening progressed, Aarohi tried to avoid too much interaction with Rishi, but he kept finding ways to subtly needle her.

"Are you always this formal at parties, Dr. Goenka, or just when you're pretending to be my 'girlfriend'?" Rishi teased when they found themselves by the refreshments table.

Aarohi rolled her eyes, pouring herself a glass of juice. "I'm not pretending anything. You were the one who couldn't handle your ex, so don't pin this on me."

Rishi raised an eyebrow. "Touché. But come on, it wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Oh, it was. You should've seen the look on your mother's face when she started talking about weddings," Aarohi quipped, taking a sip of her drink.

Rishi chuckled, but there was a softness in his eyes as he replied, "Well, in my defense, I couldn't think of anyone better to fake-date."

Aarohi nearly choked on her drink, glaring at him. "Excuse me?"

"Just kidding," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Goenka. You're way too serious."

"Maybe because I'm trying to be professional," Aarohi snapped. "Unlike some people who take everything as a joke."

"Professionalism? At a family event?" Rishi countered. "You need to loosen up."

Their banter was interrupted when Isha approached them. "Are you two at it again? Can you at least try not to bicker for one evening?"

Aarohi sighed. "It's not me. Your brother just can't help himself."

"I can't help myself? You're the one who jumps at every chance to argue!" Rishi shot back.

"Okay, that's enough," Isha said, putting herself between them. "This is supposed to be a happy celebration. Please, for once, just enjoy the evening without trying to one-up each other."

Aarohi rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Fine, fine. I'll try."

Rishi smirked. "Good, because I was about to say the same thing."

As the night went on, Aarohi found herself laughing more than she expected, engaging in playful banter not only with Rishi but also with Ekansh, Isha, and Prisha. The Malhotras were a close-knit family, and it reminded her of her own family's bond.

Later in the evening, Kaushiki and Rajveer stood on stage, thanking everyone for coming and sharing a few heartfelt words about their 40 years of marriage. Aarohi watched them, admiring the love and respect they had for each other. She found herself glancing over at Rishi, who was watching his parents with pride in his eyes.

When the speeches were done and the celebration resumed, Aarohi found herself standing alone near the garden, taking a moment to catch her breath. Rishi approached, holding two glasses of juice.

"Peace offering?" he said, handing her a glass.

Aarohi raised an eyebrow but took the glass. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," he replied, leaning against the nearby pillar. "I just thought... maybe we can call a truce for the rest of the night."

Aarohi chuckled. "A truce, huh? I'll believe it when I see it."

Rishi grinned. "You'll see. I can be pretty charming when I try."

Aarohi shook her head, taking a sip of her drink. "Good luck with that, Dr. Malhotra."

As they stood there, the banter between them softened, and for the first time that evening, Aarohi felt a sense of ease around him. Maybe this constant back-and-forth wasn't so bad after all.

The night ended with laughter, dancing, and a sense of warmth that lingered even as the Goenkas made their way home. But Aarohi couldn't shake the feeling that despite their endless banter, something about Rishi Malhotra intrigued her. And maybe, just maybe, the truce would last longer than one night.