Healing each other

chapter 47

After Arnav,  apologies to her Arohi, without a word, walked away, her heart heavy. She retreated to her room, tears streaming down her face. Memories flooded her mind, words that had haunted her for years: "No one will love you after what you did," "You're cursed," "You killed your brother," "Shame on you," "How can anyone love a girl like you?"  The pain of these accusations was unbearable.

Arohi felt a familiar panic rising, her chest tightening. She stumbled towards her medicine, but her trembling hands knocked over a vase, shattering it on the floor.  The shards reflected the cruel words of her past, echoing in her mind: "You should die," "Everyone hates you."  Desperation seized her, and she reached for a shard of glass, cutting her arm, sobbing, "Why me? I didn't do anything, why me?"

A servant, hearing the shattering glass, from arohi room She immediately got down and told everyone and to Arnav, who was in his office with his brother.  Arnav raced to Arohi's room, pounding on the locked door.  "Arohi, please open the door!" he pleaded.  He tried to break down the door, but Reyansh intervened, giving him the key.  As Arnav burst into the room, he saw Arohi, her body trembling, tears flowing, and blood staining her arm. She flinched away as he approached, fear and pain etched on her face.

"Arohi, what are you doing? Your hand is bleeding!" Arnav said, trying to get closer to her. But she backed away, sitting on the floor, and started hurting her arm again.

"Don't show me your fake care, Arnav! I'm tired. Please don't do this," she cried.

Arnav looked at her, his heart breaking. "You’re hurting yourself, Arohi. Please stop."

She chuckled bitterly, "Aren't you the one who enjoys giving me pain? How did you change, Arnav? How can you change in one day after your girlfriend cheated on you? Now you remember me, just because you have your wife at home? Tell me all this. Sorry, in front of your family. It's guilt, isn't it? Tell me you're not doing this because you want me in your life. Tell me this is all fake! I don't want to have any relation. Even knowing it will break me, I want to be alone. Please stop this game! I don't want your apology!"

Her voice was defeated, filled with fear of getting close to anyone. The rest of the family quietly left the room, giving them space.

Arnav knelt down in front of Arohi, his gaze soft and steady. "Arohi," he said, his voice low and gentle, "I understand you're hurting. I know I've hurt you, and I'm truly sorry for that. But please, stop hurting yourself. It doesn't solve anything."

He reached out, his hand hovering near hers, but didn't touch her. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm trying to change. I'm trying to be a better person, someone who deserves your forgiveness. I'm not doing this because of guilt or because I want you back in my life. I'm doing this because I care about you, Arohi. I always have."

His voice cracked with emotion. "I know I don't deserve your trust, but please, give me a chance to show you that I'm different now. I'm not asking for anything in return. Just a chance to be there for you to help you heal. Please, Arohi, let me help you."

Arohi stared at him, her eyes wide and filled with a deep, raw fear. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "You… you care about me? After everything? You’re saying you want to be there for me? But… but you’re the one who broke me.

She pulled her arm away, clutching it tightly to her chest. "How can I believe you? How can I believe you’ve changed when you’ve hurt me so much? I can’t… I can’t risk getting hurt again. I can’t let anyone get close to me."

Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible. "I’m afraid, Arnav. I’m afraid to open myself up again, to let anyone in. I’m afraid of getting hurt, of being abandoned again. I’m afraid of loving someone, only to be left alone in the end."