🎵 Song: Ve Kamleya – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes...

the strongest people ignore the smallest signs.

Until their body reminds them that it, too, needs to rest."

The beautiful Siblings Day had finally come to an end.

The laughter.

The teasing.

The photographs.

The endless blushing.

Everything remained fresh in everyone's minds.

Especially...

Aarohi's.

Sharma House – Evening

After dinner...

Aarohi quietly entered her room.

She placed her phone on the bedside table before sitting on her bed.

For some reason...

Her body felt unusually tired.

She stretched her arms.

"My shoulders feel so heavy..."

She gently rubbed her forehead.

Maybe it was because they had walked the entire day.

Or maybe...

She hadn't drunk enough water.

She didn't think much of it.

A few minutes later...

Anaya entered her room holding two cups of warm milk.

"Didi."

"Hmm?"

"You look tired."

Aarohi smiled softly.

"Just a little."

"Are you okay?"

"I think so."

Anaya frowned.

"You don't sound okay."

Aarohi laughed lightly.

"I'll be fine after sleeping."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Anaya nodded.

"Good."

"But if you feel worse, tell Mumma."

"I will."

After Anaya left...

Aarohi changed into her favorite lavender night suit.

She looked outside her window.

The balcony across the street was empty.

She smiled unconsciously.

"He must still be with Kabir."

Without realizing it...

She remembered the day's events.

"My Ocean blushes very easily."

She covered her face with her pillow.

"Why does he always say such things..."

Then another memory appeared.

"A red flag guy like me might actually start liking your smile."

Her heart skipped again.

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Sleep."

"I need sleep."

Within minutes...

She drifted off.

The Next Morning

Sunlight slowly entered Aarohi's room.

Normally...

She would already be awake by now.

But today...

She didn't even move.

Nandini knocked gently.

"Aaru?"

No response.

She opened the door.

"Aarohi?"

Still nothing.

Concerned...

She walked closer.

The moment she placed her hand on Aarohi's forehead...

Her expression changed.

"Oh no..."

Her forehead was burning.

"Aarohi!"

Aarohi slowly opened her eyes.

Everything felt heavy.

Her head hurt.

Even opening her eyes felt difficult.

"Maa..."

Nandini gently helped her sit up.

"You have a fever."

Aarohi blinked slowly.

"I..."

"I thought it was just weakness yesterday."

Nandini sighed.

"You should have told me."

"I didn't want anyone to worry."

Nandini lovingly stroked her hair.

"You silly girl."

"You don't hide these things."

Just then...

Anaya entered the room happily.

"Didi! Hurry or you'll—"

She stopped.

Her smile disappeared.

"Didi?"

She rushed to the bed.

"What happened?"

"Mumma?"

Nandini smiled reassuringly.

"It's just a fever."

Anaya immediately held Aarohi's hand.

"It's so warm."

Aarohi gave her a weak smile.

"I'm okay."

"No."

"You're not."

"You always say you're okay."

Rajeev also came upstairs after hearing the conversation.

"What happened?"

Nandini answered,

"She has a fever."

Rajeev gently touched his daughter's forehead.

"Hmm..."

"Looks like it's quite high."

He looked at Aarohi.

"No school today."

Aarohi immediately protested.

"But Papa..."

"No arguments."

"Your health comes first."

She quietly nodded.

Meanwhile...

Across the street...

The Malhotra house was having a completely normal morning.

Kabir hurriedly packed his school bag.

"Bhai!"

"Hurry!"

"We'll be late."

Reyansh lazily picked up his bag.

"Relax."

"We still have time."

As they stepped outside...

Reyansh's eyes instinctively moved toward the Sharma house.

A habit...

He hadn't even noticed forming.

Usually...

Around this time...

Aarohi would come out with Anaya.

But today...

Only Anaya stepped outside with Rajeev.

Aarohi was nowhere to be seen.

Reyansh frowned slightly.

"Where's your sister?"

Anaya looked back toward the house.

"Didi isn't coming."

"Why?"

"She has fever."

For a brief second...

Something inside Reyansh tightened.

"Fever?"

Anaya nodded sadly.

"She wasn't feeling well yesterday."

"Mumma said she has to rest."

Kabir immediately looked worried.

"Oh..."

"I hope Aarohi Didi gets well soon."

Anaya smiled weakly.

"Me too."

Rajeev and Nandini locked the gate after arranging everything for Aarohi.

As they left...

Reyansh looked once toward the balcony opposite his.

The curtains remained closed.

No Ocean.

No shy smile.

No tiny arguments.

Just...

Silence.

He looked away.

Trying to act normal.

But for the first time in many days...

The morning didn't feel the same.

Inside her room...

Aarohi slept peacefully under her blanket.

Completely unaware...

That somewhere across the street...

A certain red-flag boy had looked toward her balcony...

More than once.

End of Chapter 33 🤍🌊