10

It was a calm morning-so still, it felt like time itself had paused for a moment. Even the birds hadn't begun their daily chorus yet. A faint darkness clung to the corners of the sky, hesitant to leave. The breeze outside was restless, gentle but persistent, knocking softly at the windows and teasing the curtains through the crack in the balcony door.

Vani stirred in her sleep, her brows slightly furrowed, her breathing uneven. And then suddenly, her eyes fluttered open. She lay still for a few seconds, letting her racing heartbeat slow down, trying to separate dream from reality.

Something felt different. Offbeat. Unfamiliar.

She sat up slowly and pushed the blanket aside, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor. Guided more by instinct than thought, she walked to the balcony, pulled the door open, and stepped into the dim, hushed world outside.

The breeze welcomed her like an old friend, cold and calming, wrapping around her arms and brushing her hair back from her face. The faint scent of wet earth, though there had been no rain, lingered in the air-a quiet promise that the monsoon was not far.

Above her, the moon still held its ground in the sky, glowing like a pearl forgotten on velvet. The clouds drifted lazily beneath it, thick and fluffy like cotton beds, as if inviting the world to sleep a little longer in its silver lullaby.

Vani closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the sky. She stretched her arms above her head, then let them drop to her sides, breathing in deeply. But the tightness in her chest didn't ease.

Her mind was looping through images she couldn't quite piece together-a dream that had already started to fade but left behind a feeling that refused to leave. A figure. A voice. Eyes that felt far too familiar. A touch that hadn't happened, but her skin remembered it anyway.

She rubbed her arms absently, as if shaking off a chill that wasn't from the wind. Her lips parted, and before she could stop herself, she whispered,

"Why do you keep coming into my dreams?"

Her voice sounded too soft for even her own ears.

"Who are you?"

There was no reply, of course. Only the breeze, stirring the leaves of the potted plants beside her, and the distant hum of the city still asleep.

She tried to recall the details-the face, the name, the moment-but they slipped through her fingers like sand. All she was left with was the feeling: warmth mixed with a deep, aching curiosity.

Why did it feel like she already knew this person?

A stranger... who didn't feel like one.

Vani exhaled sharply, as if trying to exhale the confusion out of her system. She leaned against the balcony railing, resting her arms on the cool metal, and looked out at the horizon where the sky was just beginning to blush with the first shades of dawn.

A new day had started. But her mind was still lost somewhere in the shadows of her dream.

And deep inside her, a voice whispered back:

This isn't the first time.

"Ab uth hi gayi hoon toh... I should take a bath, pray, then get ready and make breakfast," Vani mumbled to herself, stretching her arms as she walked toward the cupboard. She picked out her clothes and headed to the bathroom, the chill of the morning air making her hurry a little.

The bath helped, but it was the prayer that truly settled her. She stood in front of the small temple in the living room, lighting a diya, closing her eyes, letting the peace seep into her. After finishing there, she moved to the balcony again, joining her palms and whispering her silent prayers into the open sky, where the moon was now faint, surrendering to the first strokes of dawn.

By the time she walked back into her room, the light had shifted just a little-still dim, filtered softly through the curtains. Pranvi was still sound asleep, bundled up in a tangle of blankets like a sleepy burrito.

Vani glanced at the wall clock.

"Bas 5:43? Abhi se nashta banaungi toh thanda ho jayega... Hospital toh 9 baje jaana hai."

She looked at Pranvi and smirked a little.

"Madam toh 10 baje jaayegi aaj... isko toh koi tension hi nahi, bina khaye hi nikal jaayegi."

She rubbed her eyes and pulled the blanket up to her chin again.

"Thodi der aur so leti hoon. Saat baje tak... bas saat tak," she told herself.

Of course, we all know how that goes.

Within minutes, her breathing slowed again. The world outside continued waking up-but Vani? She had already drifted off, the early morning slipping through her fingers like a half-remembered dream.

"Uth ja, madam! Kab se chilla rahi hoon-late ho jaayega pehle din hi!" Pranvi yelled, flinging the curtain open dramatically.

Vani groaned from under her blanket.

"Yaar abhi toh soyi thi! Saat toh bajne de! Tu kyun itni jaldi uth ke tayar ho gayi aaj? 10 baje jaane wali thi na?"

"Pagal, 8 baj gaye already! Ishan called-mujhe 9 baje tak pahuchna hai, koi surgery aa gayi hai."

She hurried around the room, searching for her bag.

"Tu uth ke tayar ho ja. Main nikal rahi hoon-bas nashta karke. Saath chalte hain, tujhe cab se drop kar dungi."

"Haan, haan," Vani said, already scrambling out of bed like a sleepy penguin.

In her half-sleep, full-panic mode, she pulled on her clothes and grabbed a pair of socks from the drawer-without noticing they were mismatched. One neon green, the other dull blue.

Pranvi looked down at her feet, raised an eyebrow, and smirked.

"I think your feet are not gonna like your new fashion statement."

Vani looked down, eyes widening.

"Ughhh...ye kya ho raha hai aaj mere saath!" she yelled, throwing her hands in the air.

"Aur sun, tere coat ki collar dekh... lag raha hai fashion show ja rahi hai hospital ke jagah," Pranvi added, laughing as she adjusted her own bag.

"Shut up! I'm already nervous! Ja na, kuch khane ko le aa... main tab tak mummy se baat kar leti hoon."

Pranvi went to the kitchen and returned with two plates of poha.

Vani blinked at her, confused.

"Yeh tune banaya?"

"Nahi, order kiya. Don't worry, tumhaara kitchen abhi safe hai."

They both laughed as Vani took her phone and dialed.

"Hello Mumma... aaj first day hai. Blessings de do," she said softly, her voice suddenly smaller.

"Woh toh hai hi tere paas. Bas zyada nervous mat hona aur tension mat lena. Sab acha hoga," Meera said warmly.

"Le, Papa se baat kar le."

"Beta," Raghav's steady voice came on the line, "kisi se darna mat. Imaandari aur vishwas ke saath kaam karna. Tum best ho. Bas."

"Okay Papa. Thank you," Vani smiled.

Meera quickly took the phone back.

"Aur Pranvi kahaan hai? Usse bol, tujhe dahi-shakkar khila de thoda sa!"

"Yahin hoon aunty! Don't worry, poori lassi ka glass pila ke bhejungi isse," Pranvi called out with a chuckle.

"Haan haan, theek hai. Bye. Ache se jaana, late mat hona dono."

Meera's voice trailed off with a loving laugh.

Pranvi, true to her word, brought a small bowl of sweet curd and handed it to Vani with mock-seriousness.

"Lo madam, shubh shuruaat ka prasad. All the best!"

They grinned, clicked an impromptu mirror selfie in their semi-chaotic states, and then left for their new day-one nervous, one hungry, both excited.

The apartment was quiet. Almost suspiciously quiet.

Outside, the city buzzed faintly in the distance, but inside Vani's room? Darkness. The curtains were drawn, the lights were off, and the temperature... sub-zero.

The AC hummed quietly in the corner, set to "Polar Ice Age," and on the bed, a suspiciously large, lumpy shape lay curled under not one, but two thick blankets. Only a tuft of messy hair peeked out, and the occasional shift beneath the covers proved the lump was indeed alive.

It was Vani-completely out, dead to the world, her first day as a cardiologist having drained every last bit of energy from her.

9:15 PM

The door creaked open as Pranvi walked in, a little slower than usual. Her shift had gone longer than expected-tumor case updates, report submissions, and a never-ending pile of rounds. Her shoulders ached, her face was tired, and all she wanted was to change into normal clothes and breathe.

But the moment she stepped into the living room, a wave of cold air slapped her across the face.

"What the-" she muttered, rubbing her arms. "Why does it feel like I've entered a fridge?"

She tiptoed to Vani's room and peeked in. Sure enough, the human burrito was in deep hibernation.

"Figures," Pranvi sighed.

Shaking her head, she went to her room, dropped her bag with a dramatic thud, grabbed her change of clothes-an oversized printed shirt and wide-legged jeans-and padded softly to Vani's bathroom since hers was still under repair.

Ten minutes later

Fresh-faced and slightly warmer, Pranvi re-entered Vani's room with purpose.

Step one: Fix the temperature. She grabbed the remote and bumped the AC up to something less Antarctic.

Step two: Wake the sleeping snowball.

She walked to the bed and yanked one of the two blankets off in a clean, smooth motion.

Suddenly-

"ME TERA MOOH TOD DUNGI! BHAG YAHA SE!"

Vani's voice exploded from beneath the remaining blanket like a demon summoned from a sacred slumber.

Pranvi didn't flinch. "Excuse me? I just walked in and tried to wake your frozen corpse up!"

"You promised you wouldn't make me go tonight," Vani said sleepily, her voice muffled but full of drama.

"That was before you buried yourself under every blanket we own and turned this room into Siberia!"

"I'm sleeping. I'm not going. The world can wait." Vani's voice dropped to a lazy grumble as she buried herself deeper.

Pranvi frowned and yanked the blanket again. "You're not skipping. We said we'd go out, and you're the one who begged for iced coffee and masala fries. I've already dressed up, Vani. Don't make me threaten violence."

Vani groaned like a haunted house floorboard. "Ahhh... just ten more minutes. Or ten hours. Whatever."

"I swear to God-get up or I'll throw you in a tub of warm water and force you to socialize."

"Hat naa... mujhe sone de, woman!" Vani flailed dramatically under the blanket.

Pranvi rolled her eyes and started pulling the blanket with full force now.

"Stopppp! Me tera hulia bigaad dungi!" Vani screamed from the depths of her cotton fortress.

"I'll fix it again, I'm a doctor," Pranvi snapped back. "NOW. UP."

Without warning, she tugged Vani completely off the bed, making her land with a soft thud and a wild yelp.

wild yelp.

"Aaahhh! Are you insane?! I could've DIED!"

"You were already in a coma," Pranvi replied calmly, dragging her by the arm toward the bathroom.

"You're heartless."

"No, I'm exhausted and cold. Go wash your face or I'll call Aman and tell him to give you a motivational lecture."

"You're evil," Vani muttered, rubbing her eyes as she shuffled into the bathroom like a grumpy toddler.

Pranvi smirked and called out, "And don't even THINK about sleeping on the toilet seat. I know your tricks."

There was no response.

"Vani?"

Still nothing.

"Vani, I swear-"

"I'M AWAKE!" Vani's voice finally echoed back.

Pranvi sighed in relief and flopped on the bed, finally warm. She looked at the ceiling and muttered to herself, "Honestly, handling that tumor case was easier."

After nearly freezing herself into hibernation and being yanked out of bed by a merciless Pranvi, Vani had finally freshened up, pulled herself together, and reluctantly agreed to go out for dinner.

Now, about half an hour later, the two were standing outside a cozy, dimly lit rooftop restaurant, soft instrumental music floating from the open terrace above. Vani had barely opened her mouth to yawn when-

Her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen and groaned internally.

"Maa." she muttered to Pranvi, who raised her brows with a smirk.

Vani took the call anyway, already bracing herself.

"Hello..." she answered, her voice still drowsy and distant.

"Tu abhi tak so rhi hai?!" Meera's voice burst through the speaker like a blaring alarm.

Vani pulled the phone a little away from her ear, cringing. "Mammi! Aap hamesha YHI kyu kehte ho 'abhi tak'? Main kya poore time soti rehti hu?"

Inside, Pranvi was already holding back laughter, pretending to admire the restaurant menu board outside.

"Khaana khaya?" Meera asked sternly, ignoring the sass completely.

"Haan, wahi khane aayi hu. Pranvi ke saath." Vani said, glancing at her roommate, who was now lightly giggling.

There was a pause. And then-

"Kitni baar bola hai Roz roz bahar ka mat khaya karo!" Meera's pitch hit a new high.

Vani pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Are mummy, hospital se aake thak gaye the aur Pranvi late aayi thi toh nahi bana paaye."

The sigh Meera let out on the other end could've shaken mountains.

"Theek hai, jaldi jao wapas ghar khaa ke."

Her voice was firm, like a general giving orders.

Vani saluted instinctively even though her mother couldn't see. "Ji."

Another beat passed.

Then Meera's voice softened a little. "Pehla din kaisa gaya?"

Vani immediately switched to her classic drama mode, puffing her chest and raising her free hand in mock devotion.

"Ab Mata Meera Devi ka ashirwaad ho to bura kaise ja sakta hai." she said, eyes closed, full performance mode activated.

There was silence for a second-then a quiet chuckle from the other side.

"Acha... chal ab jaa, kha le khana."

"Ji mataji." Vani said with a smile, and the call ended.

She turned toward Pranvi, who was now leaning on the railing, waiting patiently.

"You survived?" Pranvi asked.

"Barely," Vani sighed. "She thinks I live on street food and laziness."

"She's not... entirely wrong."

"Wow," Vani gave her a mock glare. "Whose side are you on?"

"Reality's," Pranvi said, patting her shoulder as they finally entered the restaurant.

Inside, warm golden lighting and the smell of butter naan greeted them like a hug. A host welcomed them, guided them to a corner table on the terrace, where fairy lights hung like stars and soft sitar music played in the background.

"Okay," Vani sighed, settling into her seat. "Now this feels worth waking up for."

"Even Meera Devi would approve," Pranvi grinned, opening the menu.

Vani smirked. "Only if I go home straight after. Without dessert. Without breathing too much outside air."

The restaurant's rooftop buzzed with quiet conversation, clinking cutlery, and the soft hum of fairy lights swaying above. The evening breeze was cool, music mellow, and Vani was finally starting to feel human again-until a waiter arrived beside their table, holding a notepad and the brightest smile ever.

"Ma'am, may I take your order?"

Vani opened her mouth, ready to demand garlic naan and butter paneer with the intensity of a starving queen, when suddenly-

"Wait," Pranvi interrupted, raising a polite hand.

Vani blinked. Excuse me?

"Umm, we're waiting for someone . Just water for now, please," Pranvi said sweetly, flashing a smile that made Vani instantly suspicious.

The waiter nodded and walked off.

Vani stared at her best friend. "Don't tell me..."

"What?" Pranvi tried to act casual, playing with the edge of the tablecloth.

"You've called that rakshas Aman again, haven't you?" Vani narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with disbelief and impending doom.

Pranvi gave a sheepish grin. "Hehehe... I didn't call him. I just told Ishan, and Aman was... there. So he came too. "

Vani groaned dramatically, slapping her forehead. "Main ye paani fek dungi tere muh pe. I swear."

"Yrrr tujhe kya problem hai Ishan se?" Pranvi asked, confused but amused.

Vani rolled her eyes, adjusting in her chair like a restless storm. "Mujhe Ishan se nahi, us karele se problem hai. Jab dekho tab kadvi hawa nikalta rehta hai muh se. It's like being insulted by a thesaurus."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind her, full of smug satisfaction:

"Jaise aapke muh se to phool baraste hain."

Vani froze. Her jaw dropped a little, and she turned around slowly, like a horror movie protagonist sensing doom.

And there he was.

Aman.

Leaning casually, hands in pockets, smile wide but laced with just enough sarcasm to make her want to toss the chair at him.

"Am... Aman..." she stuttered.

"Ji," he replied with a mock bow.

Vani sniffed and turned back to the table like he didn't exist.

"Ishan, hi!" she said instead, smiling warmly at the far more tolerable half of the duo.

"Hey, both of you," Ishan greeted, sliding into the seat across from them. Aman followed, plopping down beside him with the grace of someone who knew he was unwanted but enjoyed the drama anyway.

"Nice place," Aman commented, glancing around. "Didn't expect you guys to pick something this... refined. Thought we'd end up in a chai tapri or something."

"We were trying to avoid people with bad taste," Vani said sweetly without looking at him.

"Oh good, you failed," Aman said, pouring himself water.

The tension was immediate and deliciously entertaining-at least to Pranvi and Ishan, who exchanged silent looks, biting back laughter.

Once the order was finally placed (after Vani nearly threw the menu at Aman for making 'suggestions'), the food arrived, and they dug in. Sort of.

The table was finally full-pulao, shahi paneer, soft rotis, salad, chutney... the kind of spread that could make even a fitness freak give up.

The aroma hit them like a warm hug. Stomachs growled in chorus. Hunger was real.

Just as everyone was

about to attack the food, Vani's eyes narrowed at something weird-looking sitting in the middle of the table.

"Ye... ye kya hai ajeeb si dish?" she asked, leaning closer, nose wrinkled in full-on disgust.

Aman smirked. "Octopus ka pasta. Tumhare liye gift."

"Eww! Ye tumhari shakal se bhi bekaar hai!" Vani shot back, eyes wide.

"Aur tumhari se toh better hi hai!" Aman replied, flicking an imaginary dust off his shoulder.

Vani squinted at him, fire in her eyes. "Apni aankhein dekhi hain kabhi? Aisa lagta hai jaise isi octopus ki chura ke chipka li ho."

Aman didn't even blink. "Aur tumhari aankhein? Bilkul medhak jaisi."

Roast battle level: petty sibling energy unlocked.

Pranvi looked up from the mystery dish to Ishan, trying not to laugh. Was this dinner or a WWE match?

"Tum dono chup karo!" Ishan finally snapped, rubbing his forehead.

Vani and Aman looked at him like two scolded kids... then instantly turned their heads away from each other with synchronized attitude.

Drama paused.

Ishan leaned in and looked at the odd dish.

"Aur ye baingan hai... octopus nahi." he added dryly.

A collective 'ohhh' ran through the table. Vani looked personally betrayed.

"Excuse me!" Ishan called out to a waiter.

"Yes, sir?" the waiter replied, calm and clueless.

"We didn't order this dish." Ishan said.

The waiter checked the order again, realization dawning on his face.

"Ohh... sorry sir, this was for the next table. One minute, I'll bring your food."

Ishan nodded. Vani still glared at the baingan like it had personally offended her.

Soon, the right food arrived. This time, no baingan in sight. Only good vibes and hunger.

Vani dived straight into the paneer like it was her long-lost soulmate. Pranvi picked up some pulao, Ishan served quietly, and Aman grabbed his roti with way too much butter (as usual).

All was good...

Until-

"Haaaaaa!!!"

Pranvi suddenly choked, eyes wide. Her hands flailed. She had just eaten a green chilli whole.

"WATER! WATER!" she gasped.

Before anyone could blink, Ishan had already passed her a glass of water in one hand and a tissue in the other.

That was fast. Like superhero fast.

Vani leaned over, concerned. "Gulab jamun le! Jaldi!" she said, handing her the soft dessert like it was medicine.

After a few coughs and wide-eyed panic, Pranvi finally calmed down. Her cheeks were pink, her lips still tingling from the spice.

But something else made her cheeks stay red.

She looked at Ishan.

He looked back.

Just a second.

But ohhh, that one second felt like a full K-drama slow-mo scene.

She looked away instantly, burying her face behind her napkin, lips twitching into a shy smile.

Why was her heart racing more than it did after that chilli?

She shook her head, trying to focus on the food again, but her mind kept replaying Ishan's reaction on a loop.

"So... how was your first day?" Ishan asked, sipping his juice, eyes on Vani.

Before Vani could even blink, Pranvi cut in with a sweet smile and the most savage drop.

"Itna accha ki she got a proposal... from an uncle."

Aman spat his water laughing.

"Un budhe uncle ko aankhon ka operation karwana chahiye." he said, wiping his face.

Vani crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Kyu? Ab main unko sundar lagi toh tumhe kya jalan ho rahi hai?"

"Haan, haan! Bilkul sahi! Waise bhi tum budhon ki hi category mein aati ho... shayad unhone tumhe koi 80 saal ki budhiya samajh ke proposal de diya hoga." Aman burst into laughter again, nearly falling off his chair.

Vani glared. Her roast gun was loading.

"Aur tum to insaano ki category mein aate hi nahi ho... Alien ke fufa ji lagte ho!"

"Heyyy! Tum log fir shuru ho gaye!" Ishan interrupted, sighing like a tired schoolteacher.

He looked at Vani. "But seriously, what happened? Tell us the story."

Vani rolled her eyes but finally gave in.

"Arre kuch khaas nahi, ek uncle ne mazak mein bol diya-'Beta, you're so beautiful. Are you married? You can be my bahu.'"

Flashback Begins...

Vani was walking through a side corridor when she saw two very joyful looking old men laughing like schoolboys.

Then one of them turned toward her with a warm smile and said,

"Beta, you're so beautiful. Are you married? You can be my daughter-in-law."

Huh?! Excuse me?

Vani blinked. Was this a prank? Was she on Hidden Camera India?

Before she could react, the other uncle stepped in, laughing.

"Arre beta, ignore him. Yeh toh bachpan se aise hi ulte-seedhe jokes karta aaya hai. Full-time comedian hai yeh."

Vani smiled awkwardly. Kya hi mil gaya mujhe yahan pe?

"Waise... aap dono bachpan se ek doosre ko jaante ho kya?" she asked out of pure curiosity.

"Haan beta! 60 saal ki dosti hai. Best friends forever!" Uncle 2 beamed.

Vani's jaw almost dropped. "WOW! Kitne ke ho aap dono?"

"Main hoon 67, aur yeh pagal 66 ka." the calm uncle replied proudly.

"Still, both of you look so healthy and young!" Vani said genuinely.

"Haan beta, kabhi yoga nahi chhoda zindagi mein! Bachpan se karte aa rahe hain. Aajkal ke bache toh 20 mein hi thak jaate hain... kisi ki kamar dard karti hai, kisi ke ghutne!" the first uncle said, dramatically rotating his shoulders.

"Hame dekho! Abhi bhi healthy aur handsome lagte hain. Bas thodi si umar ki leher hai." he added, giving a mini pose like a vintage Bollywood hero.

Vani laughed. "Sach mein uncle, aap dono toh abhi bhi 20 ke lagte ho... ekdum Dilip Kumar X Jackie Shroff fusion."

Both uncles chuckled like schoolboys caught cheating on a test.

"Acha chalo beta, tumse milke bahut accha laga."

"Same here, uncle. Aap dono toh vibe ho!" Vani grinned and waved goodbye.

Flashback Ends.

Back at the dinner table, Aman still hadn't stopped laughing.

"Mujhe toh lagta hai un uncle ne yeh bhi bola hoga-Shaadi toh meri ho chuki hai, par agar meri patni agree kare toh main dobara karne ko ready hoon!" he teased.

Vani threw a spoon at him. "Apna muh bandh kar, alien ke rejected version!"

Ishan just shook his head, smiling helplessly as the table exploded in laughter again.

"But honestly... it was actually really good," Vani said, her voice a little softer now. "Those two uncles? Sweetest people ever. Can't believe how long their friendship has lasted."

"Yeah..." everyone said in sync, nodding in awe.

Then Pranvi leaned in. "Waise, how was Dr. Dilip? Was he rude or serious types?"

Vani shook her head. "Not at all! He was so kind. Like genuinely warm. But..." she paused and her tone changed slightly.

"But what?" Ishan asked, picking up on the shift immediately.

Vani sighed. "I got some bad news on my very first day."

Everyone looked at her, attention fully grabbed now-even Aman, who had been hyper-focused on demolishing a gulab jamun, paused mid-bite.

"Haan, kya?" he asked, mouth half-full.

Vani continued, "So I made a new friend-one of the nurses there. She told me Dr. Dilip is getting transferred... to Delhi."

"What?!" Pranvi gasped. "But why?"

"Haan, kyu?" Aman echoed, now properly interested.

Vani rolled her eyes. "Because his family lives there, duh. He wants to be closer to them. Logical reason, but still sad."

She folded her arms dramatically. "Mujhe toh laga tha ki main kisi heavenly hospital mein kaam kar rahi hoon, itne acche seniors ke saath... aur unka behavior bhi A+ tha. Is mamle mein toh main lucky thi." Then she glanced at Aman.

"Lekin kisi alien ne nazar laga di."

Aman gave her a strange exaggerated smile like he was hiding the truth.

"Bas ab pata nahi kaun aayega next. I just hope it's not some khadus doctor. I really wish." Vani sighed.

Aman couldn't resist. "Agar aayega bhi na... toh tumhari shakal dekh ke bhag jayega." he smirked.

Vani turned to him slowly. "Tumhari problem kya hai?"

"Tum." Aman replied proudly, chest out like he just won a war.

"Toh phir mere bagal mein kyu baithe ho? Bhaag jao yahan se!" she said, chucking a spoon at him.

Aman dodged it like a ninja. "Main bhi plate fek dunga. Tera pura designer look garam daal se destroy ho jayega."

"Acha? Toh is juice ka kya karein?" Vani raised an eyebrow, holding a glass menacingly.

Pranvi looked at Ishan, giving him a silent "fir se shuru ho gaye ye dono" expression.

Ishan let out the most tired sigh of the day. "Guys. Enough. Not in public, please."

Then he turned to Vani. "Waise, hospital ka naam toh bataya hi nahi tumne ab tak. Kaunse hospital mein job lagi hai?"

Just as Vani opened her mouth to answer-

"Sir, bill." The waiter arrived, holding the little folder like it was the final exam result.

Everyone's attention instantly shifted. Eyes went from playful to "kaun de raha hai?" mode in seconds.

The moment was gone. The topic smoothly drifted into something else as they finished up, teasing each other over the prices.

Eventually, they stepped out, laughing, full-bellied, and still mid-roast.

And just like that... the chaotic dinner ended.

"Ji, app 12 baje se pehle aa jaiyega. Ishan sir mil jayenge aapko," Pranvi said politely over the phone, maintaining her professional tone. Her voice was soft, respectful, but firm-something she had mastered over the years.

"Ji ji... okay. Thank you," the patient replied before the call disconnected with a faint beep.

Pranvi placed the phone back on its cradle and let out a quiet sigh. The cabin was filled with a calm afternoon light, the sun casting golden stripes through the blinds. She absently turned toward the large glass window of her cabin, eyes seeking something-or rather, someone.

And there he was.

Outside, standing tall with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his long white coat, was Dr. Ishan kashyap. His posture upright, shoulders proud, and voice low but assertive as he spoke to a senior gastrointestinal surgeon-probably in his late 40s. Ishan looked every bit the accomplished man he had worked hard to become.

Though his demeanor was professional, his presence shone like sunlight through winter fog-warm, radiant, quietly commanding attention. There was a certain confidence in his stance, a charm in the way he listened intently, occasionally nodding or smiling slightly. His face, framed by neatly combed hair and that signature clean-cut look, held a brightness that wasn't just physical. It reflected strength, dedication, and a quiet fire of success.

He looked like the kind of man who walked into a room and unknowingly carried half the gravity with him.

Her eyes traced the subtle movements of his hands as he spoke, the occasional tilt of his head, the light chuckle that curved on his lips, and then, in a blink, the sudden seriousness that returned to his face. His expressions were a poem in motion-switching from one verse to the next seamlessly.

And just like that, he finished his conversation.

His gaze, wandering casually, landed on her.

Heart. Skipped. Beat.

Pranvi immediately looked away, as if caught doing something scandalous. Her hand reached for the file beside her, but in her flustered state, it slipped. She bent down to pick it up and-thump!-bumped her head into the sharp edge of the desk.

"Aahhh... uhh... uhhh," she winced, letting out a small, slightly exaggerated cry as she stood up, pressing her hand gently.

"Hey, are you okay?" Ishan's voice came in sharply as he walked in, concerned. In seconds, he was beside her, reaching for her hand, his fingers lightly touching hers as he rubbed the sore spot gently.

"Are you fine now?" he asked again, his tone lowered but laced with care.

His touch, though subtle, sent a ripple through her body. Her cheeks flushed-heat spreading to her ears. She could barely think, let alone speak coherently.

"Patient... mujhe dekhne ayega..." she tried to respond, voice a little higher than normal.

"Huh? What?" Ishan frowned slightly, amused by her scrambled sentence.

"I-I mean... tumhe mein nahi dekh rahi," she corrected-but only made it worse.

His eyebrows shot up slightly, confused now.

She panicked. "Mera matlab... tum patient to dekho..."

And then she shook her head, almost laughing nervously at her own mess. "I mean... main patient dekhne ja rahi hoon," she finally managed to say and turned around quickly.

Before he could respond, she was already at the door, escaping the growing warmth in the room-and in her chest.

But luck had other plans.

Just as she stepped out, her foot caught the edge of a stack of files placed on the floor by the door. She gasped, slipping forward-but she didn't hit the ground.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist in time, steadying her like a wall that refused to let her fall.

Her breath caught.

She looked up.

His face-close. Too close.

It was him.

Ishan held her securely, their eyes locked for a moment that stretched longer than it should've. In those seconds, the noise of the hallway, the beeping of machines, and even the rush of her own panic disappeared.

"Sorry," she whispered, finally finding her voice.

"Sorry," he said at the same time.

And just like that, they both smiled.

A small, unexpected smile danced on Pranvi's lips as she lowered her gaze, cheeks turning a deeper pink. She quickly straightened up, stepping away, adjusting her dupatta, and with a barely controlled giggle, half-covered her face with her hand.

Then she turned and ran-literally ran-down the hallway, her embarrassment chasing her like a storm.

Behind her, Ishan stood watching, puzzled but amused, a curious smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

What just happened? he wondered.

And Pranvi? She was already replaying every second of it in her head-with a heart that wasn't quite ready to slow down.

Vani was halfway through her afternoon rounds, her white coat flowing behind her like a quiet storm as she moved from one patient to the next, checking vitals, reviewing ECGs, and instructing the junior resident trailing beside her.

As she stepped out of Room 209, Priya-the young, ever-smiling nurse-walked up with her tablet in hand.

"I'll miss Dr. Dilip," Priya said suddenly, her voice softer than usual.

Vani paused and looked at her. "Hmm? Kya hua?"

"He's such a nice man. He always cared for me like his own daughter. He even remembered my birthday every year... brought a small cake last time too," she added with a fond smile, eyes growing misty.

"Ohh..." Vani nodded, touched by the warmth in her tone. "He's actually very nice. Aur shayad tum thoda zyada hi attached ho," she added teasingly with a soft smirk.

Priya chuckled. "Haan, actually... my father and he were classmates in school. So there's this old connection. But he's good to everyone, not just me. Everyone will miss him."

Vani gave a quiet smile, nodding thoughtfully. People like Dr. Dilip were rare-kind, experienced, and unshaken in tough times.

Their rounds ended at the next ward. After wrapping up the case notes and discussing medication changes with a resident, Vani handed back the chart.

"Okay, phir milte hain," she said to Priya, who waved and headed back toward the nurses' station.

Vani walked toward her desk with a bunch of files in hand. She sat down, opening the case file of a 58-year-old female patient recently diagnosed with Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation. The woman had been complaining of persistent fatigue, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Her echocardiography reports showed a dilated left atrium and poor leaflet coaptation.

She's scheduled for a Mitral Valve Replacement surgery this evening, Vani reminded herself. She was assisting Dr. Dilip in the OT-a major case that needed full prep. Her pen tapped against the table as she reviewed the patient's labs, crossmatching blood units, and anesthesia clearance.

"Hey!" a cheerful male voice interrupted her focus.

She looked up to see a man-white coat on, tall, lean build, slightly tousled hair, and a smile that held both confidence and a strangely boyish energy.

"Hello...?" she replied, eyes narrowing slightly, unsure if they'd met before.

"I'm Dr. Vinay," he introduced himself, extending a hand. "Gastrointestinal surgery department."

Vani blinked for a moment, then took his hand politely. "Dr. Vani. Cardiology."

"Ohhh, cardiology... nice. You're new here, right?"

"Yeah," she said, nodding. "Joined a few days ago."

"Cool. I joined about six months back. Still figuring out the cafeteria though," he grinned, half-joking.

Vani gave a polite smile.

"So... umm... did you need something?" she asked, slightly tilting her head.

"N-no... nothing specific. Bas aise hi," he said, scratching the back of his neck, clearly realizing he didn't have a strong reason for interrupting.

"Well, I have some work," Vani replied with a short nod, returning her gaze to the report. "See you around."

"Sure, see you," he said, stepping aside as she walked past.

Vani made her way to Dr. Dilip's cabin, knocking once before entering.

He was seated at his desk, already reviewing the OT schedule.

"Dr. Vani," he said, smiling warmly. "Come in. Let's go over the mitral case."

"Yes, sir," she said, taking a seat. "Patient's INR is in range, blood is arranged, and anesthesia team has cleared her. I just wanted to discuss the prosthetic valve options once more before we begin."

"Perfect," he nodded. "We'll go with the mechanical valve. She's relatively younger for her age bracket and can handle lifelong anticoagulation. The damage to her chordae tendineae is beyond repair."

Vani nodded, taking notes as he spoke.

"We'll be starting with a median sternotomy. Once we're in, cardiopulmonary bypass will be initiated and the native valve will be excised completely. You'll assist with the suturing for the mechanical valve placement. Make sure you observe the annular sizing closely-we've had a few borderline cases recently."

"Yes,

sir. I'll be ready."

Dr. Dilip looked at her with a gentle smile. "You're doing well, Dr. Vani. It's good to have sharp minds in this field."

"Thank you, sir," she said, humbled.

As she stepped out of the cabin, her mind was already in the OR-scanning through surgical steps, patient vitals, and the rhythm of heartbeats she had sworn to protect.