Chapter 2 – The Girl Who Was Forced to Lose

After Ananya Verma died, her daughter Aarohi was only ten years old.

She didn’t understand business, property, shares, or money.

She only understood one thing — her mother was gone.

After the funeral, her father Rajiv came and took her to his house. Not their house. His house.

Aarohi stood at the big gate with a small bag in her hand. The house was big, beautiful, and cold. Very cold.

A woman came out wearing a designer saree and a sweet smile.

“Hello Aarohi, I am Meera. From now on I am your mother.”

Aarohi looked at her and said softly,

“Meri mummy already hai. (I already have a mother.)”

Meera’s smile froze for one second, then she laughed.

“Of course, beta. I mean second mother.”

Behind her stood a girl of Aarohi’s age — Riya.

Beautiful hair, expensive dress, attitude full.

Riya looked Aarohi up and down and said,

“So you are the famous daughter.”

Aarohi didn’t answer.

That was her first day in that house.

And from that day, her life slowly changed.

At first everything looked normal. But slowly slowly Aarohi understood the rules of the house.

Rule 1: Riya always comes first.

Rule 2: Aarohi always helps Riya.

Rule 3: Aarohi never argues.

Rule 4: Aarohi never wins.

Yes. Never wins.

The first time Aarohi came first in class after moving there, she ran home happily with her report card.

“Papa! I came first!”

She thought he would be proud.

But her father looked at the report card and then looked at Meera.

Meera smiled and said softly,

“Aarohi beta, next time let Riya come first. She gets very sad when she loses.”

Aarohi thought she was joking.

She wasn’t.

Her father said seriously,

“You are younger, you can come first later. Let your sister shine.”

That day Aarohi learned something very important.

In that house, her success was someone else’s problem.

After that day, whenever there was a competition, Meera would come to her room and say sweetly:

“Aarohi, you will participate but you will lose at the end, okay?”

“Riya ko jeetne do. (Let Riya win.)”

“You are a good girl, you will understand.”

And Aarohi always nodded.

Because she had no one on her side.

Her father believed Meera.

Her brother lived with his father and slowly forgot her.

Her mother was gone.

So she learned to stay quiet.

In school, Aarohi became famous for something strange.

She would:

Lead the race the whole time… then slow down at the end.

Play piano beautifully… then make one mistake at the end.

Answer all quiz questions… then give the wrong final answer.

Dance perfectly… then slip in the last step.

Teachers were confused.

Students were confused.

But Riya always got first prize.

Riya would stand on stage smiling, taking trophies, while Aarohi clapped in the audience.

One day her class teacher stopped her after school.

“Aarohi, tum jaan bujhkar haar rahi ho na? (You are losing on purpose, right?)”

Aarohi stayed silent.

Teacher said softly,

“You are the most talented student I have ever seen. Why are you doing this to yourself?”

Aarohi smiled a little and said,

“Ma’am, har competition jeetna zaroori nahi hota. (It’s not necessary to win every competition.)”

But inside she thought,

“Kabhi kabhi jeetna allowed hi nahi hota. (Sometimes you are not allowed to win.)”

Years passed like this.

Aarohi became expert in losing at the last moment.

She lost so much that people started calling her “Almost Winner.”

One day she came home and saw Riya shouting at a servant.

“You idiot! Do you know who I am? I win everything in my school!”

Aarohi stood there quietly and thought,

“Nahi Riya… tum nahi jeetti. (No Riya… you don’t win.)

Main jeetti hoon. (I win.)

Bas trophy tum le jaati ho. (Only the trophy goes to you.)”

That night Aarohi opened her cupboard and looked at a small box.

Inside the box were:

Participation certificates

Second place medals

Appreciation letters from teachers

And one photo of her mother.

She held the photo and said softly,

“Mom, you won everything.

I lose everything.”

“But I promise… agar next life mili na… (If I get another life…)

main kisi ko jeetne ke liye nahi harungi. (I won’t lose so someone else can win.)

Main sab jeetungi. (I will win everything.)”

She didn’t know at that time…

Life was already listening to her promise.

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