Chapter 4 : A happy morning

                                    

                                          
Arohi had felt something different last night, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Seeing Shivay again had brought back a rush of memories and emotions that she thought she had buried deep within her heart. The way he had looked at her, the way he smiled—it all made her heart race. It felt like she was reliving her teenage years, filled with the same innocent hope and excitement.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar voice of her father calling from the kitchen. "Arohi, get up! It's too late. I've brought breakfast. Get up!"  
The enticing aroma of freshly made samosas wafted through the air, reaching her bedroom. She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent, and it brought a smile to her face. Samosas were her favorite, and her dad knew just how to cheer her up, even though he had no idea what was on her mind.
Arohi sat up slowly, stretching her arms above her head. She felt a lightness in her chest, a sense of joy that hadn’t been there in a while. She quickly got out of bed, washed up, and made her way to the dining table, where her parents were already sitting with plates full of samosas, chutney, and a pot of steaming chai.
"Good morning," Arohi greeted them cheerfully as she sat down. Her mother gave her a curious look. 
"Someone’s in a good mood today," her mother remarked with a smile. "Did something special happen last night?"
Arohi hesitated for a moment, wondering how much she should share. "I went to a reunion with my old coaching class friends. It was fun seeing everyone after so many years."
Her father nodded approvingly. "It’s good to reconnect with old friends. Helps keep you grounded and reminds you where you came from."
Arohi nodded, taking a bite of her samosa. "Yeah, it was great. I didn’t realize how much I missed them."
She thought about Shivay again, his face flashing in her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile. Her mother noticed the smile and raised an eyebrow. "Anything else? You seem happier than just catching up with friends would explain."
Arohi blushed slightly, trying to hide her emotions. "No, nothing else. Just good memories."
Her mother exchanged a knowing look with her father but didn’t press further. They continued eating, chatting about other things, but Arohi’s mind kept drifting back to last night. She wondered what Shivay thought of her after all these years. Did he remember the shy girl who never dared to confess her feelings?
After breakfast, Arohi retreated to her room, still lost in her thoughts. 
Arohi picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found her cousin’s name. Without hesitating, she pressed the call button, eager to share the news. After a few rings, her cousin picked up.
“Hey, Arohi! What’s up?” her cousin chirped.
“You won’t believe who I ran into last night!” Arohi blurted out, her excitement spilling over.
“Oh, who?” her cousin asked, intrigued.
“Shivay!"
There was a brief pause before her cousin responded, her voice laced with disbelief. “Wait, *that* Shivay? The one you had a massive crush on?”
“Yes, that one!” Arohi couldn’t contain her laughter, still riding the high of seeing him again.
Her cousin let out a small sigh. “Well, he was good-looking and smart, I’ll give him that,” she admitted. “But honestly, I never really liked his personality. He always seemed so full of himself, like he thought he was better than everyone else. You remember how he used to act like he knew everything? He could be so arrogant sometimes.”