In the heart of chaos

Chapter 31

It was late in the afternoon, and Aarohi sat in her room, finally unwinding after the day's emotional rollercoaster. The tension from Aarav's surgery still lingered in the back of her mind, though the success of it had offered her some peace. She was going through a few reports on her tablet when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Rishi.

Rishi: "Coffee? My treat. You've earned it."

Aarohi blinked at the screen, surprised but not entirely opposed to the idea. After everything they'd been through today, coffee didn't sound like such a bad suggestion. She hesitated for a moment before typing her response.

Aarohi: "Sure. What time?"

Almost immediately, a reply popped up.

Rishi: "In an hour. Usual spot?"

Aarohi smiled faintly. Rishi had a way of keeping things casual, even when the world seemed to be falling apart around them. She set her tablet aside and began getting ready, her thoughts drifting to their complicated dynamic. They may argue, banter, and challenge each other constantly, but they worked well as a team. And maybe, just maybe, they were starting to tolerate each other outside the operating room.

As she was heading downstairs, Trisha, who had been sitting on the couch scrolling through her phone, looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Where are you off to?" Trisha asked with a knowing smirk.

"Just grabbing coffee," Aarohi replied, keeping it casual as she adjusted her scarf.

"With who?" Trisha's smirk deepened. Aarohi's evasive tone was enough to spark her interest.

"Rishi."

That was all it took. Trisha's eyes widened, and she leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Rishi? As in Dr. Rishi Malhotra? Your nemesis?"

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "It's just coffee. We work together, remember?"

Trisha wasn't convinced. "Oh, I'm sure it's just 'coffee.' Right. Do me a favor—don't fall for your sworn enemy, okay? It's a bad trope in all the dramas."

Aarohi let out a small laugh and shook her head. "Trust me, Trisha Bhabhi, I won't."

Trisha gave her a playful wink. "We'll see about that."

---

Rishi was already seated when Aarohi arrived at the cozy little café. He looked up as she entered, giving her a casual wave. The place was dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Aarohi took a seat across from him, and a waitress quickly came to take their orders.

As they waited for their drinks, Rishi leaned back in his chair, his usual teasing smile in place. "I didn't think you'd actually agree to this. Figured you'd be too busy plotting my downfall or something."

Aarohi chuckled. "I was considering it, but I figured I'd take a break from the plotting tonight."

They shared a light laugh, but soon the conversation shifted to more serious matters. Rishi grew quieter, his eyes searching hers as he asked, "So...what's going on between you and Abhimanyu? There's obviously some serious history there."

Aarohi sighed, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup as she contemplated how much to reveal. But something about Rishi's directness made her feel comfortable enough to open up.

"It's...complicated," she began, her voice quieter now. "Abhimanyu and I were engaged once. Everything was set—families involved, wedding planned—and then, at the last minute, he left me at the altar. For Akshara."

Rishi's eyes widened slightly. "He what?"

Aarohi gave a small, bitter laugh. "Yeah. He left me on our wedding day to marry my sister. The next day."

Rishi's expression darkened. "That's messed up."

"It was," Aarohi agreed, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of pain. "And it still is. Every time I see them, every time I'm around the Birlas, it's like a reminder of what happened. I've moved on—or I'm trying to—but they just...they don't let me forget."

Rishi's brow furrowed as he processed her words. "And your family? Where do they stand in all of this?"

Aarohi shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. "They've always been caught in the middle. They try to be supportive of me, but it's hard when Akshara's involved. She's their daughter too, and they want to keep the peace. But recently, it's been a lot of conflict. Akshara still sees me as a threat, and Abhimanyu—he's never gotten over the fact that I exist in their lives."

Rishi shook his head, leaning forward slightly. "You're not the problem here, Aarohi. That's their mess, not yours."

Aarohi smiled faintly, appreciating his support. "It doesn't always feel that way."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between them. Rishi watched her carefully, his usual light-hearted demeanor replaced with genuine concern.

"You don't deserve to carry all of that," he said softly. "You've been through a lot, and I can't imagine how hard it's been. But you're strong. I've seen that."

Aarohi met his gaze, something softening in her expression. "Thanks, Rishi. That means more than you know."

He gave her a small smile before leaning back again, the tension between them easing just a bit. "So, now that we've had our deep, emotional moment, should I go back to teasing you?"

Aarohi laughed, shaking her head. "Please don't."

"No promises," Rishi quipped, but his eyes were kind as he watched her, a hint of something more than just their usual banter simmering beneath the surface.

As they finished their coffee, Aarohi couldn't help but feel that something had shifted between them. The lines between enemy and friend were blurring, and while she wasn't ready to admit it yet, maybe Trisha had been right.

Maybe there was more to her and Rishi than just professional rivalry.