Aarohi had never known what peace felt like. Since childhood, her home had been a battlefield where every day was a new war between her parents. Shouting, breaking things, accusations—it all became background noise in her life. She would lock herself in her small room, pressing her hands to her ears, trying to drown out the chaos.
But nothing ever drowned it out.
At the age of ten, her mother decided to send her away. "It’s for your own good," she had said, forcing a weak smile. Aarohi didn’t understand how being sent away to a hostel, away from the only world she knew, was supposed to be for her good. But she went. Because she had no choice.
The hostel was a different world. She made friends—some true, some fake. She learned to survive. But she also learned what it felt like to be bullied. The teasing started small—mocking her stammer when she was nervous, laughing at her outdated clothes. But soon, it turned cruel. Pushing, tripping, stealing her belongings.
And she never told anyone. Because she believed no one would care.
Six years later, when she returned home, she thought maybe things had changed. That maybe her family would be waiting with open arms.
But her home was no longer the same. The house was quiet—not because peace had finally settled, but because her parents had given up the fight. They were divorced. Her father was gone. And she was left with her mother, a woman who barely spoke to her, lost in her own world of struggles and bitterness.
Aarohi missed her father, even though he had never really been there for her. She missed what little attention he used to give, missed the idea of a family she never truly had.
She wanted to start over, at least by choosing her own college, her own path. But that, too, was taken from her. Her mother decided everything—what she should study, where she should go, what she should become.
And Aarohi obeyed. Because what else could she do?
Every night, she lay awake, staring at the ceiling, feeling the walls around her close in. She felt trapped—in her life, in her mind, in a future that was never hers to decide.
Until one day, the weight became too heavy.
She stood on the rooftop, the city lights blinking below her, the cold wind biting her skin.
Would anyone notice if she was gone?
Would anyone care?
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
And then, she let go.
Author's Note: This story is a reflection of the silent battles many people fight every day. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. There is always hope, always help. You are not alone.
