Scene 1: In Her Apartment – The Storm After the Storm… with a Rainbow
The door creaked open as Aarohi entered her apartment. The soft lights greeted her like an old friend, but her heart was still heavy with everything that had happened.
Dropping her bag on the couch, she stood silently in the living room. Her eyes fell on the tiny Lord Shiva idol on the shelf. Folding her hands quickly, she whispered,
"Thank you, Shiva… for giving me strength today. But please… a little less drama tomorrow?"
She dragged her tired body to her bedroom and plopped face-first on the bed.
And then—
Ring-ring.
Her phone buzzed next to her head.
She groaned and turned, not in the mood to deal with anything else. But the name flashing on the screen made her sit bolt upright.
Rithvik Veerayut.
Eyes wide. Fingers trembling.
She stared for two full rings before finally answering.
"H-Hello…?"
"…Did you reach home?"
There was silence for a second.
Then Aarohi's voice, almost a whisper, "Yes… I just reached."
"Good. Rest well."
Click.
The call ended.
She froze for a beat.
Then—
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
She threw her phone onto the pillow, covered her face with both hands, kicked her feet in the air like a teenager in love, and then rolled to one side of the bed, squealing softly into her blanket.
"HE CALLED ME! AGAIN!! SHIVAAAAAA!!!"
Just then—
Thud.
Her roommate, Rhea, pushed open her bedroom door, bleary-eyed in her pajamas and hair sticking up like a wild lioness.
"What in the world, Aarohi?! It's 11 PM! Are you wrestling ghosts or auditioning for a horror movie?"
Aarohi peeked out from her blanket, eyes shining.
"Rheaaaaaaa! He called me!! Again!"
Rhea blinked. "What?! Who?"
Aarohi hugged her pillow. "Rithvik. Sir. THE Mr. Rithvik Veerayut! First he called me in the taxi… and now again to check if I reached home safely!!"
Rhea stood there frozen, half-asleep, trying to connect the dots.
"…Wait. You mean the same guy who shouted at you like a drill sergeant this morning? Who made you cry in front of the whole office?"
Aarohi nodded, still grinning like a lunatic.
Rhea slowly walked to her, sat on the bed, and said flatly,
"You need help. Serious help. You're not normal anymore."
Aarohi giggled, "I KNOW! He was so cold earlier, I felt like I was saying sorry to a fridge. But now… he called. Twice! Even if he didn't say much… his voice was softer. He cared."
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Aro. This is the same man who said—'Mind your place. You're just an intern. I'll kick you out.'—this morning."
Aarohi hugged her tighter. "Exactly! And this is the same man who asked, 'Did you reach home?' tonight! That's growth!"
Rhea rolled her eyes and lay down beside her. "Girl… you're actually losing your mind. Do you hear yourself?"
Aarohi turned on her side to face her. "I do! And I love the sound of it! I thought he hated me. But maybe… maybe he doesn't. Maybe he was just… hurting."
Rhea looked at her seriously. "Okay. Real talk. I get it, love makes people crazy. But just promise me something?"
Aarohi blinked. "What?"
"Don't let your heart fall so hard that you lose your dignity, Aro. I know you're strong. Don't let his wounds wound you too. Understand?"
Aarohi softened. Her smile faded slightly as she whispered, "I won't, Rhea. I promise. But… I also can't help it. Something about him makes me feel… pulled. Like I've known him in another life or something."
Rhea blinked. "Oof. That's the final stage. Delusional romance. Love after madness."
Aarohi laughed loudly. "Shut up!"
Rhea pulled the blanket over her face. "God, why did you give me a roommate who talks to Shiva, rolls like a puppy, and falls in love with volcanoes? Please help me. I'm living with a mental person. Help…"
Aarohi giggled again and turned to the side, resting her head on her arm, still smiling.
Rhea peeked out of the blanket and muttered, "I'm going back to sleep before you start doing somersaults."
"Good night, Rhea."
"Good luck with your mad love story. Good night."
Rhea left the room, and Aarohi was alone again.
She looked at her phone one last time and smiled.
"He called me… He really called me."
And for the first time that night…
She slept with her heart light and dreams full of hope.
---
Scene 2: Late Night, Veerayut Mansion – Sibling Shenanigans
Rithvik Veerayut leaned back against the headboard of his luxurious yet minimalistic bedroom, the moonlight casting a soft silver glow across the space. He had just ended the call with Aarohi, his voice returning to its usual cold register as he placed the phone on the side table. But something lingered in the air—a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.
As he turned around to switch off the bedside lamp, he paused mid-motion. The door wasn't shut properly, and in the dim hallway light, he noticed two shadowy figures clearly trying to hide behind the edge of the wall.
His voice cut through the silence, sharp and knowing. "If you two are done eavesdropping, come in."
There was a beat of stunned silence before two muffled voices began arguing softly.
"You go first!"
"No, you go first, you were in front!"
"Stop pushing me—ouch! Thanwa!"
"Pakorn, shut up, he heard us!"
Rithvik rolled his eyes. "Both of you. Now."
With exaggerated guilt written all over their faces, Thanwa Veerayut, the middle brother—tall, fit, with an always-playful smirk—and Pakorn Veerayut, the youngest and most dramatic, shuffled into the room.
"Uh... hey, big bro," Thanwa started, scratching the back of his neck like a kid caught stealing sweets.
"Nothing serious, we were just… y'know… in the area," Pakorn added, eyes darting around as if trying to spot some escape hatch.
"Just came to say good night! Sweet dreams and all that," Thanwa said a little too cheerfully.
"Yeah, totally innocent family visit!" Pakorn chimed in with wide eyes.
Rithvik crossed his arms. "Uh-huh. So, you always say good night by standing outside my door and listening in?"
The two brothers looked at each other, then back at him, smiling nervously.
Thanwa nudged Pakorn, mouthing, say something!
Pakorn quickly blurted, "It's because… we heard a voice! Yes! A girl's voice! That's what stopped us!"
Thanwa, suddenly animated, stepped forward, "Exactly. We heard you talking to someone. A girl, right? That's rare, bro. I mean—really rare. So naturally, our curiosity took over."
Pakorn leaned in eagerly, "Is she your girlfriend? Are we finally getting a sister-in-law?"
Rithvik raised a brow. "She's an intern. That's it. Now leave."
The brothers stared at him, clearly unconvinced. Thanwa whispered to Pakorn, "Did he just say intern?"
Pakorn whispered back, "He totally did. But no way that's just an intern."
Thanwa's eyes twinkled mischievously. "This girl isn't ordinary. I feel it in my investigative bones."
Pakorn nodded sagely. "I agree. We need a plan. Operation Secret Love Investigation begins now."
Just then, Rithvik's voice thundered from behind. "Did you two not leave yet?"
Both brothers jumped like scared cats.
"We're going! Good night, Brother!" Thanwa said, grabbing Pakorn by the sleeve.
"Yes! Bye! Sleep tight!" Pakorn shouted as they dashed out of the room.
Once safely back in their shared hallway, the brothers turned to each other, eyes gleaming.
"Tomorrow, we start observing this intern girl," Thanwa whispered.
"I'll get the binoculars," Pakorn added with mock seriousness.
Thanwa gave a fake salute. "For the sake of brotherly peace and romantic progress."
They both giggled and tiptoed into their rooms.
Back inside his room, Rithvik allowed a rare smirk to appear on his lips.
"Idiots," he murmured fondly.
But his mind, despite their nonsense, drifted back to that call… to the soft 'good night' from a certain intern… to the unexpected warmth it brought to his cold, lonely night.
---
(Clip)
Just as Thanwa and Pakorn ran back to their room giggling like mischievous kids, Rithvik stood near his balcony, staring out at the silent night sky. His phone buzzed again.
Aarohi: "Thank you, sir... for calling. It meant a lot."
Rithvik read the message, his fingers paused over the keypad to reply. But instead of texting back, he slowly locked his screen and placed the phone on the table. His face looked unreadable… but his eyes? There was something—something soft, something broken, something… longing.
He looked at the small wooden box tucked in the drawer of his desk. A box he hadn't opened in years. Slowly, as if battling with himself, he reached for it.
He opened it. A dried, withered plant. The same type Aarohi had placed on his table. The same one he'd thrown away today.
Suddenly, his fingers clenched. His jaw tightened. His brows furrowed.
Aarohi's voice echoed in his mind—"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you..."
And just then—
His phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't Aarohi.
Unknown Number: "You really think you can bury the past, Rithvik? You haven't even seen the beginning of it yet."
Rithvik's face hardened as he stared at the message.
Thanwa (from the other room): "Bro, what are you doing awake still?"
Pakorn: "Is the ghost of your ex finally back to haunt you?"
Rithvik whispered to himself, eyes darkening—
"Maybe she never left."
---