Roohi's POV

The shimmering lights of the Shah mansion were a dazzling backdrop to (Sangeet) one of the pre-wedding ceremonies of my friend, Mihir Shah. He looked undeniably handsome, dressed as a groom, his face radiating happiness as he prepared to marry the love of his life, Gaurvi. The air was thick with excitement, laughter, and the delicate scent of roses. The rhythmic beats of traditional drums filled the night, creating an atmosphere of pure joy.

But my mind was far from the celebrations.

As I stood there, my eyes drifted away from the dancing guests and vibrant colors, seeking out the one person I couldn’t help but look for...

Vihan Singh Rathore.

The man who had unknowingly held my heart captive for years. There he was, as magnetic as ever, leaning casually against the bar, his tuxedo tailored to perfection. His hair was tousled in that maddening way, like he’d just run his hand through it—a gesture that, despite myself, made my heart race every time.

He flashed that dangerous smile, the one that made every woman in the room stop in her tracks. And right now, he had a small group of them hanging on his every word. They were giggling, blushing, swooning, just like countless others before them.

I felt a familiar pang in my chest.

Unlike them, I wasn’t just another admirer. I wasn’t some random girl hoping for his attention for the night. No, I was Roohi Kapoor—one of his best friends. The one who’d been by his side since kindergarten. The girl who had stuck around through every silly crush, every attention-seeking effort, and every flirtatious moment of him that had, over time, chipped away at my own heart.

We had always been close, but I’d longed for more than just friendship for years. I wanted him to see me—not as the girl he called for advice when his latest fling didn’t work out, but as someone who could be more to him than a friend. More than the one he confided in when things went wrong.

Tonight, though, my hope was dwindling.

I had made extra effort in getting ready for this ceremony, hoping—no, praying—that tonight would be different. That he might finally see me as something other than the girl who was always there in the background. The gown I was wearing, a rich emerald green that clung to my curves just right, had been chosen with him in mind. I had wanted his eyes to light up when he saw me, to catch him staring, maybe to make him forget all about whatever other women were around.

But as usual, he was more interested in others.

The memory of what had happened two days earlier flashed in my mind, and my frustration grew.

We’d gone shopping together for the wedding. It had been my idea, of course. I’d suggested that since Mihir and Gaurvi were getting married, we...Vihan and I should wear something special too. Something that would make us stand out as the best man and maid of honor. He’d agreed, albeit with his usual nonchalance, but I was excited. The thought of spending an afternoon with him, just the two of us, picking out clothes, trying them, and selecting them together had felt like another chance to be close to him.

We went to Mohit Uncle’s Creations, our favorite fashion designer. It had been a safe choice because Mohit uncle himself wasn’t there that day, . He was our parents' friend who loved to tease, and I knew he would’ve jumped on the opportunity to make jokes about Vihan and me if he had seen us shopping together for wedding outfits. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the teasing—sometimes I even secretly wished Vihan would take those jokes seriously—but I didn’t want him to feel awkward or self-conscious. Not yet.

When we arrived, Mohit uncle’s assistant, Harry, greeted us and led us through a selection of outfits. I short-listed a few gowns, each one more elegant than the last, but my focus was always on Vihan. I watched his reactions carefully, hoping to see a flicker of something—anything—that showed he noticed me in a different light.

But before we could even try on any outfit, or select something for him, his phone rang.

Oh, no!!!

No! No! No!

I wanted to kill the person on the other side... Especially If it is a girl.

But I could not... and of course, it was a girl.

“I’ll be right back, Roohi,” he said, flashing me an apologetic smile. “You know how it is. Just get whatever you want.”

And just like that, he was gone.

I didn’t need to ask. I knew exactly what it was. Another girl. Some beautiful woman had probably called him, and without a second thought, he was off to meet her. Again.

He left me standing there, alone there, surrounded by elegant gowns and mirrored reflections of myself. I felt a wave of frustration washed over me. I’d taken time out of my day for this, I’d tried to make this moment special, and yet here I was—forgotten the second someone else called him.

I didn’t even bother choosing a gown after that. What was the point? I went home, tossed aside all the excitement I’d felt earlier, and pulled out a dress I already owned for the pre-wedding party. It was a gorgeous gown, no doubt, but it wasn’t the one I’d wanted to wear. It wasn’t the one I’d hoped Vihan would notice me in.

And now, here I was, standing in the middle of Mihir’s pre-wedding celebrations, watching Vihan flirt with other women while I tried to convince myself that I hadn’t expected anything different.

It had been years since Mihir and I suggested to each other that I should tell Vihan about my feelings, and he would confess his feelings for Gaurvi as he was almost in the same boat as me.

Both Mihir and I made unsuccessful attempts to tell our love interests about our feelings. But either they were oblivious or wanted to remain that way.

Mihir and Gaurvi were now getting married, starting the next chapter of their lives together. And me? I was still standing in the same place, watching Vihan slip away from me over and over again.

Roohi's POV

Years of waiting, of hoping, of trying to move on but failing miserably each time I saw that stupid smile of his. All those years and nothing had changed.

I sighed, taking a sip of my drink, trying to shake off the overwhelming feeling of disappointment. Why couldn’t I just let him go? Why couldn’t I be like Mihir and Gaurvi, finding love and happiness with someone who actually wanted me back?

I was lost in the man and just then I heard another voice. “I saw you looking at him again.”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just... lost in thought, I guess.”

Mihir raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Roohi, come on. We both know you’re not fine. You’ve been hung up on Vihan for as long as I can remember, and he still doesn’t see it. Don’t you think it’s time to do something about it? Tell him how you feel, or let him go.”

I bit my lip, my chest tightening. “I’ve thought about it. A hundred times. But what if it ruins everything? What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

“And what if he does?” Mihir countered, his voice gentle but firm. “You’ll never know unless you take the risk.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. I wasn’t brave like Mihir. I wasn’t the type to take risks, especially not with someone as important to me as Vihan. The thought of losing him—even as a friend—was too terrifying to face.

Mihir sighed, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Roohi, I love you. But you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You deserve to be happy, and if Vihan can’t give you that, then maybe it’s time to move on.”

“I know,” I whispered, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. “But how do I move on from someone who’s been such a big part of my life? Could you have moved on if you were not getting married to Gaurvi?”

He reached out and squeezed my hand. “You are right!! I might have gone mad... Anyway, whatever happens, you’ve got me and Gaurvi. We’re always here for you.”

I nodded, grateful for his support, even though I knew that letting go of Vihan wasn’t something I could do overnight. It would take time—if it ever happened at all.

As Mihir walked away, I stole one last glance at Vihan. He was still laughing with the women around him, completely oblivious to the fact that the girl who loved him more than anyone else was standing just a few feet away.

Maybe it was time to stop waiting for Vihan to see me.

But as I stood there, watching him, a part of me still couldn’t let go. Not yet.

Not when there was still that tiny, stubborn hope that maybe—just maybe—things could be different.

I stayed at the ceremony for as long as I could, mingling with guests, dancing to the popular dance numbers, and trying my best to ignore the ache in my chest.

*******

As the night wore on, my parents introduced me to a guy that my maternal uncle (mamu), Sujoy uncle suggested.

He was a very eligible bachelor who was perfect for me according to them.

" Hey, I am Garvit Tandon, friends call me Garv. " He said.

" Hi! Roohi Kapoor" I replied.

Mamu was telling me about him, but I was not listening to a word of it.

" Oh, I am sorry, Mamu, but I need to talk to Mihir regarding something important; I will come back after that. " I said, looking at me, and he raised his eyebrow and nodded with a knowing smile.

" Yeah, sure, I understand, there is no hurry; we will continue this meeting at home in a day or two now; as it is, these things should be discussed in a calm environment. " He said looking at me. I nodded at him, gave a polite smile to that man, and excused myself.

Oh, God! I was getting sick of this matchmaking my family had been doing for me. Everyone was after my life.

Only I knew how I was handling the pressure, but the weight of my emotions became too much to bear when I saw him flirting with every girl at the function.

Eventually, I slipped out of the mansion and went into the cool night air, seeking some quiet away from the noise and laughter.

“Roohi!” a familiar voice called out, making me stop on the track.

I turned to Mahi, my sister-in-law, walking toward me, her beautiful lehenga shimmering under the lights. She was glowing, radiating happiness as my brother loved her, and also because her brother, Mihir, was getting married today.

“You okay?” she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.

" I am fine, bhabhi. I just needed some fresh air. Don't worry about me, just enjoy the Sangeet," I said, and she left after smiling at me.

I found a secluded spot in the garden, beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, and sat down on a stone bench.

It was peaceful here, away from the celebration, but my thoughts were anything but calm. I closed my eyes, leaning back against the bench, and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

Why did love have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t Vihan just see what was right in front of him?

Mihir’s words echoed in my mind: You need to decide, Roohi. Tell him, or move on.

But how could I do either when my heart refused to let him go?

“Roohi?”

The voice startled me, and I opened my eyes to see Vihan standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets.

“Roohi!! I’ve been looking for you,” he said, a lopsided grin on his face. “You disappeared on me.”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “I didn’t think that you would notice. You seemed pretty busy.”

He chuckled, walking over and sitting down beside me on the bench. “Yeah, well, you know how it is. Everyone wants a piece of me tonight.”

I rolled my eyes. Typical Vihan!