Chapter-16

Ayushman’s words echoed in the room, his voice unwavering.

“I know everything. You don’t have to explain. I know you’re innocent.”

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I knew everything... I had seen it all through my hidden camera. I had been watching her every move, sensing that something was bound to happen. But I never expected her to go as far as slamming that file down on the table. It was as if the tension had reached its breaking point, and I, with deliberate intent, made my way to her cabin.

But I was utterly shocked by what Arohi did to her... I never could have imagined it. She slapped the girl two times.

It filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride, and before I even realized it, the words slipped out: "That's my girl." I had never anticipated such boldness from her—she had just proven, beyond any doubt, how she had been managing RI all on her own, handling it with grace and strength. And with that realization, I couldn’t help but walk straight to her cabin, my mind racing with a newfound respect.

Arohi’s heart fluttered, and a soft smile crept onto her lips. It was the first time someone had truly believed in her, a warmth she had never felt before.

In the past, her father’s harsh words and constant reprimands had left her feeling misunderstood, trapped in a world where she was always blamed.

But then, her mind raced. How did he even get in here? The question lingered in the air, and just as quickly, the answer came—Ayushman’s calm demeanor never wavered as he continued.

“The reason I’m here is simple: there was a small correction in the file you gave me. You made a silly mistake.”

Arohi’s eyes widened in shock, her body trembling uncontrollably, a wave of fear crashing over her. Ayushman, still focused on the file, glanced up and froze. There, before him, stood Arohi—her face pale, her body shaking like a leaf, as though the very sight of him had frozen her in terror.

Confusion clouded Ayushman’s mind as he stepped forward, but Arohi recoiled, taking a fearful step back.

"What’s wrong, Arohi?" he asked, his voice thick with concern. "Why are you shaking?"

Her body quivered violently, and in a barely audible whisper, she stammered.

"Please... don’t hurt me... like Dad... please..."

The words broke her, and suddenly, tears streamed down her face in torrents, her sobs wracking her fragile frame.

Ayushman’s eyes widened in shock, his heart twisting at the sight of her despair. Without a second thought, he reached out, pulling her towards him, his arms enveloping her as if to shield her from the world, his mind reeling at the depth of pain she was carrying.

Arohi pressed her trembling hands to her eyes, her body wracked with fear as she whispered over and over.

"Don’t hurt me... please, don’t hurt me..."

Her voice quivered, barely audible, as though the very air she breathed was suffocating her.

Ayushman, his heart breaking at the sight of her distress, leaned in closer, his voice soft and soothing as he whispered in her ear.

"Calm down, Arohi. Please, calm down... I won’t hurt you."

His words were gentle, yet laced with urgency, as his hands moved to her forehead, lightly patting her, trying to reassure her with every tender touch.

But Arohi, lost in her terror, sobbed uncontrollably, her tears soaking the fabric of Ayushman’s shirt, her entire body trembling against him. Her cries echoed in the quiet room, and her pain seemed endless, as if the weight of every past hurt had collapsed upon her all at once.

PAST INCIDENT

It was a morning like any other, and Arohi was getting ready for work, her heart light with optimism. The sun streamed through the window, and she hummed softly, her mood bright. But suddenly, the door swung open with a force that rattled the room, and Advik, her father, stormed in, his face twisted in a fury she knew all too well.

"Where are you, you little unlucky charm?" His voice thundered through the space, and Arohi's heart dropped, her body going rigid with fear.

Her eyes widened in terror, and her voice barely escaped her lips, trembling as she whispered, "What happened, Dad?"

"Don’t you dare call me Dad."

Advik snarled, his words sharp enough to cut through her.

"You don’t deserve to be my daughter."

Arohi flinched as if struck, the weight of his words landing like a crushing blow. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision.

She had grown accustomed to this cruelty over the years, but each insult still felt like a fresh wound.

A father—the first man a girl is supposed to trust, to love—was supposed to be her protector, her guide, her hero. But here he was, telling her she wasn’t worthy to be his daughter.

And yet, despite everything, the ache in her heart only deepened, because no matter how many times he hurt her, the yearning for his love never faded.

Arohi nervously bit her lip, gathering the courage to speak, her voice trembling as she asked.

"What happened, Dad? Why are you so angry?"

Advik's temper flared as he snapped back, "What happened? And you're asking me that? You misplaced the file and sent it to the wrong shareholder!"

Arohi's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat.

"I'm so sorry, Dad," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm still so new to the office, I... I didn't mean to mess up."

Advik stopped her and said.

"So what you unprofessional br@t !! You don't deserve anything. I wish you would have died that day... Otherwise my Mom wouldn't be disappointed on us and left us suddenly"

Arohi shut her eyes tightly, each word from her father's mouth striking her like a dagger, cutting deeper than the last. She was his firstborn—his daughter.

In a family steeped in tradition and bound by the weight of royal expectations, a son was always desired, yet fate had given them Arohi.

Her arrival had shattered Advik's hopes, and the disapproval of both his parents weighed heavily on his heart. His mother, consumed with grief and anxiety over the future, had suffered a heart attack the very day after Arohi’s birthday—and tragically passed away.

From that moment on, Advik had always blamed Arohi for his mother's death, holding her responsible for the pain that haunted him.

When Rishika was born, the family was already reeling from a storm of problems—tensions had risen, and there were clashes with the subjects. Amidst the turmoil, it was Arohi, the once-despised daughter, who took matters into her own hands.

Disguised and cloaked in secrecy, she ventured out among the common people, accompanied by a few trusted guards. While the guards spoke, Arohi listened, and in her quiet wisdom, she helped resolve the issue. She forbid the guards from revealing her involvement, ensuring that no one would ever know the truth of who had quietly fixed the crisis.

But when Rishika arrived, Advik's heart shifted. He believed that with her birth, fortune had finally smiled upon him, and so, his affection for her overshadowed everything—especially for Arohi, the daughter he could never truly embrace.

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I was utterly stunned to see her in such a state. I’ve always known Arohi to be innocent and deeply emotional, but this side of her—this brokenness—is something I never could have anticipated.

How could someone endure so much trauma? Is she truly traumatized? What on earth happened to her in the past? The more I thought about it, the more everything seemed to spiral into confusion.

But right now, the only thing that matters is that I need to be there for her. I have to console her, to help steady her trembling soul before the weight of her pain consumes her entirely.

"Arohi, come on, open your eyes... Everything's going to be okay," Ayushman’s voice was soft yet firm, as he gently coaxed her to return from the darkness of her despair. Arohi slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred from the torrent of tears. She glanced at Ayushman and saw that his shirt was soaked with her sorrow, her tears staining the fabric. Her heart clenched with guilt as she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Ayushman... I ruined your shirt... I’m such a mess... I can’t do anything right."

Ayushman, taken aback by her fragile state, was at a loss. He had never consoled a girl before, never faced such raw emotion.

He gently took her hands, his touch reassuring yet unsure. "Don’t say that, Arohi," he said softly, his voice trembling with sincerity.

"I don’t know what you’ve been through... I don't know the scars of your past that haunt you. But what I do know is this: I’ll never hurt you. Never. So please, get up and sit with me... Let me help you ease the pain of your past, and together, we’ll make your present beautiful."

Arohi met his gaze, her eyes still heavy with uncertainty, but there was a flicker of trust. She managed a weak, fragile smile, the kind of smile that held more hope than she had let herself feel in a long time.

She trusted him. After all, Ayushman Suryavanshi had always kept his word. She knew, deep down, that he would do whatever he said.

Ayushman gently helped Arohi sit down on the couch, his voice tender as he said, "Wait here, I'll get you something to eat.

You must be exhausted." Arohi nodded weakly, and he quietly left the room. Thirty minutes later, Ayushman returned, his steps slow as he approached the couch.

He paused, his heart tightening at the sight of Arohi asleep, her delicate form curled up, looking so vulnerable. But as he moved closer, his eyes caught something that made his breath catch—a few silent tears lingered at the corners of her eyes.

It was clear she had cried again.

His mind swirled with questions, each one more haunting than the last. He couldn't shake the image of her fragile state.

With a heavy sigh, he pulled out his phone and dialed Advik's number. The call was picked up almost immediately, Advik's voice sounding too casual as he greeted.

"Ah, the pleasing man himself. Good afternoon, Ayushman! How are you?"

Ayushman’s tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. "I'm fine. But I need to ask you something."

"Sure, ask away," Advik replied, his voice smooth, almost too smooth.

Ayushman didn’t hesitate. "What happened to Arohi in the past? Why is she so... shaken?"

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. Ayushman could practically hear Advik’s eyes widen in surprise before he stammered, "N-no, nothing happened... Why are you asking?"

Ayushman’s voice was steady, but a quiet storm brewed beneath. "She was shaking from fear. It’s clear it’s some kind of childhood trauma. What happened to her, Advik?"

Before he could speak further, Advik cut him off, his voice suddenly strained. "No, no, it’s nothing—nothing at all. It’s just... her acting, you know? She’s always been dramatic." A nervous laugh followed, but it did nothing to hide the tension in his voice. "Well, I’ve got to go. Important work, you know?" And with that, the line went dead.

Ayushman stood there, staring at the phone in his hand, the cold silence of the call echoing in his mind. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and concern. There was something more—something Advik wasn't saying. Something deep within Arohi's past that was desperately trying to stay hidden.

Ayushman muttered to himself, disbelief lacing his words, Is he really that clueless? Arohi’s shaking, her fear—acting? He had witnessed it with his own eyes; the depth of her trauma was clear. How could Advik, her own father, brush it off as nothing more than drama? Dramatic?

The thought made his blood boil. Whose father would ever say such a thing? No, there was something far darker buried beneath the surface, something Advik was desperately trying to conceal. Ayushman’s jaw tightened as he made a silent vow to himself—he would uncover the truth, no matter what it took.

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