Chapter 4 – This Time, I Choose Myself

Chapter 4 – This Time, I Choose Myself

Morning sunlight entered Aarohi’s room, but for the first time in her life… she didn’t feel like hiding under the blanket.

Instead, she sat up straight, stretched lazily, and smiled.

“Good morning, new life.”

Then she paused and added with a small laugh,

“Aur good luck sabko. (And good luck to everyone.)”

Because from today… things were about to change.

At breakfast, the atmosphere was as usual.

Her father reading newspaper.

Meera acting sweet.

Riya scrolling her phone like she owned the world.

Aarohi quietly sat down.

Meera said with fake warmth,

“Aarohi beta, today there is a school sports selection, right?”

Aarohi nodded,

“Haan. (Yes.)”

Riya immediately said,

“Main bhi participate karungi. (I will also participate.)”

Aarohi looked at her calmly and took a sip of milk.

“Good. Competition strong hoga. (Competition will be strong.)”

Riya frowned.

“Tum bas participate karna. Jeetna mat. (You just participate. Don’t win.)”

Old Aarohi would have nodded.

New Aarohi smiled.

“Dekhenge. (We’ll see.)”

Her father lowered the newspaper slightly.

“What do you mean ‘we’ll see’? Just let your sister win. It’s not a big deal.”

Aarohi looked at him for a second.

Not angry. Not sad.

Just… clear.

“Mere liye hai. (For me, it is.)”

And she stood up and left.

The dining table went silent.

Meera whispered,

“Lagta hai attitude aa gaya hai. (Seems like she has developed an attitude.)”

Riya rolled her eyes,

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle her.”

Aarohi, walking away, smiled slightly.

“Try kar lo. (Go ahead and try.)”

At school, the sports ground was full of energy.

Students running, shouting, practicing.

Aarohi stood at the registration table.

“Name?”

“Aarohi Verma.”

“Event?”

She smiled.

“Sab. (All.)”

The teacher blinked.

“All?”

“Yes. Running, long jump, relay, everything.”

Students around her started whispering.

“Overconfidence hai kya? (Is she overconfident?)”

“Dekhte hain. (Let’s see.)”

Aarohi stretched her arms calmly.

“Confidence nahi… experience hai. (Not confidence… experience.)”

First event: 100-meter race

Riya stood beside her, adjusting her hair.

“Last time ki tarah end mein slow kar dena. (Slow down at the end like last time.)”

Aarohi smiled.

“Last time ki Aarohi mar chuki hai. (The Aarohi from last time is dead.)”

Before Riya could react—

Whistle!

They ran.

Riya started fast.

Aarohi started faster.

Halfway, Aarohi was ahead.

Earlier, this was the moment she slowed down.

Today?

She accelerated.

Even faster.

Wind hitting her face, heartbeat steady, eyes focused.

“Jeetna hai. (I want to win.)”

She crossed the finish line first.

Loud cheers.

Riya came second, shocked.

“Impossible…”

Aarohi turned, breathing lightly, and said with a small smile,

“Welcome to new version.”

Second event. Third event. Fourth.

Result?

Aarohi – First

Aarohi – First

Aarohi – First

Teachers were impressed.

Students were shocked.

Riya was furious.

After school, Riya cornered her.

“Tumne meri insult kar di! (You insulted me!)”

Aarohi leaned casually against the wall.

“Competition tha. (It was a competition.)”

“You were supposed to lose!”

Aarohi tilted her head.

“Kisne bola? (Who said?)”

“Mom said! Dad said!”

Aarohi stepped closer, eyes calm but sharp.

“Aur maine kab kaha ki main maanungi? (And when did I say I’ll listen?)”

Riya was speechless.

That night, Meera entered her room again.

This time, smile less sweet.

“Aarohi, what are you trying to do?”

Aarohi looked up from her book.

“Jeet rahi hoon. (I am winning.)”

“You are creating problems in this house.”

“Nahi. (No.)”

“Main bas sach dikha rahi hoon. (I’m just showing the truth.)”

Meera’s voice hardened,

“If you continue like this, you will regret it.”

Aarohi closed her book slowly.

Then stood up.

Walked closer.

And said softly:

“Main pehle hi sab regret kar chuki hoon. (I have already regretted everything once.)”

“Ab nahi. (Not anymore.)”

For the first time… Meera had no reply.

Later that night, Aarohi sat with her notebook again.

She opened a new page.

Plan: Become Independent

Start saving money

Learn stock market

Build future early

Never depend on family

She tapped the pen thoughtfully.

“Paise ke bina power nahi milti. (Without money, you don’t get power.)”

Then she smiled slightly.

“Aur mere paas future ka shortcut hai. (And I have a shortcut to the future.)”

She stood near the window again, looking at the city lights.

“This time…”

“Main kisi ke liye nahi jeeyungi. (I won’t live for anyone.)”

“Main kisi ke liye nahi harungi. (I won’t lose for anyone.)”

“Main sirf apne liye jeetungi. (I will win only for myself.)”

Then she added with a playful smile:

“Aur thoda maza bhi karenge. (And we’ll have some fun too.)”

Because this time…

She wasn’t just surviving.

She was playing to win.

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