12

Vani sat at her cluttered desk, a half-finished cup of coffee beside her, the table buried under patient files. Her messy hair was hastily tied up, and a pair of glasses perched low on her nose as if they were helping her scan the cardiology report faster.

Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation... EF 35%... needs surgical intervention soon, she murmured under her breath, pen tapping lightly against the paper.

She was deep in focus when a sharp, angry voice from the reception area broke her concentration. Her eyes flicked up, brows furrowing.

From the glass wall, she spotted a man clutching the receptionist's collar, his voice booming across the lobby. The receptionist's terrified expression said it all.

In a second, Vani was on her feet. She pushed the files aside, slipped off her glasses, and walked quickly to the chaos. By the time she reached, two nurses and a male staff nurse were already there - but the man wasn't alone. A small group stood behind him, all demanding information about some patient.

"I said stay away from him! Can't you hear?" Vani's voice cut through the noise as she stepped in front of the receptionist, shielding him.

The man barely glanced at her... and then ignored her completely.

Her eyes narrowed. "Stop this nonsense right now. I'll call the police!"

But he still didn't stop.

That was it. Vani grabbed him by the arm, yanked him backward, and shoved him far enough that he stumbled and landed against the wall. Gasps echoed through the reception.

Before he could recover, Vani snatched a bottle of water from the counter and splashed it right in his face.

"Now, have you got some consciousness back? Or still planning to act like a madman?" she shouted, her voice sharp as glass. "This is a hospital, not a WWE fighting ring!"

The man stared at her, water dripping down his face, his eyes burning with anger.

From the corner, Vinay had been watching the scene silently, but the moment he saw the man glaring at Vani, he stepped forward.

"Ha... how dare you!" Vinay's voice rose as he pointed a finger at the man. "She's right - this is no place for your drama."

"Ohh... what will you do then?" the man sneered at Vinay, stepping forward.

Vinay's bravado evaporated in a second. He quietly shuffled back, half-hiding behind Vani, his hand clutching the corner of her apron like a scared kid.

Vani shot him a sideways glance. Seriously? This is the man who talks big in the canteen?

The man laughed. "Dar gaye?"

"Where is the security?" Vani asked sharply, looking at the hospital staff.

"Mam... they tried to stop them, but the gang beat them up. Some security guards are outside - the gang locked the main door," one nurse replied nervously.

Another staff member quickly rushed to call the senior doctor, while someone else discreetly dialed the police.

The man now stood right in front of Vani, eyes narrowing.

"Tum zyada uchal rahi ho... pehle tumhe hi thikane laga deta hoon," he threatened.

Vani instinctively stepped back, almost stumbling - but in the next second, her spine straightened. She shoved him hard, sending him crashing into a dustbin with a loud clang.

"You-!" The man scrambled up, furious, and grabbed Vani's wrist.

But Vani reacted instantly, she yanked Vinay forward like a human shield and shoved him into the man.

"Aa... meri kamar!" Vinay yelped. "Kisi aur ko kheench leti na!"

Vani glared at him. "Tum kya ho... do saal ka bacha? Inse ladne ke bajaye mere peeche chhup rahe the?"

Vinay sheepishly stepped aside while Vani faced the man again.

The man lunged once more, this time grabbing Vani's collar from behind. But she was faster, her hand shot to the nearby table, grabbed a syringe filled with sedative, and pressed it against the side of his neck.

The man's eyes went wide, then his body went slack. He collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

The gang members froze, shocked at what they had just witnessed.

At that moment, security burst in from another entrance, pushing back the rest of the group. Seconds later, the senior doctors arrived from the top floors, delayed because the lift was under maintenance.

Finally, the police stormed in, weapons drawn. Within minutes, the gang was in handcuffs.

"They're wanted," one officer explained grimly. "Tried to kill a businessman but failed... so they came here to finish the job."

Vani exhaled, pushing her hair back. "Well... not in this hospital."

"What just happened?" Dr. Dilip, the senior-most cardiologist, asked as he stepped into the corridor, his brow furrowed.

The HR head was still busy talking to the police, while the rest of the staff tried to catch their breath. One by one, they explained the entire incident.

"That's impressive, Miss Vani Saini," one of the senior doctors said. Then, narrowing his eyes at the others, he added, "Yes... but what exactly were you all doing while she fought him alone?"

A few nurses quickly spoke up. "Sir, his gang held us at gunpoint... we couldn't move."

From the corner, Vinay's voice piped up weakly. "Umm... anyone? Please help me up?"

Everyone turned to find him still sitting on the floor, legs sprawled out like he'd just run a marathon in his head. Someone pulled him to his feet, and he brushed off the dust from his clothes before joining the group-trying to look like he'd been helping all along.

Dr. Dilip turned back to Vani. "How did you do that?"

Vani smiled. "Sir, I learned self-defence three years ago during a camp. Who knew it would actually come in handy like this?"

"That's good," one of the seniors nodded approvingly.

Dr. Dilip straightened. "Alright, Dr. Vani-come to my cabin with the reports. Everyone else, back to work. And you-" he pointed at one of the male staff members, "call the others, clean up this mess, and make sure all patients and their families are safe."

"Yes, sir," the man replied quickly.

Within moments, the corridor was bustling again-nurses checking on patients, ward boys clearing the overturned chairs, and security tightening their posts.

"Yrrr, jab se yaha aayi hu na... kuch na kuch strange hi ho raha hai. Normal toh ho hi nahi sakti mere saath cheezein," Vani complained, stabbing her fork into the pasta.

"Tu khud normal nahi hai, tere saath normal kaise hoga?" Priya said with a chuckle, sipping her cold coffee.

Vani gave her a sharp look but then went back to focusing on her food.

"Ab dekhna... do dino mein Dr. Dilip sir bhi chale jayenge toh mera kya hoga? Pata chala, jo new surgeon aaye, vo koi khadus-akdu nikle. Fir toh ek aur naya tamasha hoga... aur main phir topic ban jaungi." She sighed dramatically.

Priya tried to suppress her laugh but failed. "Haan... aur phir tu heroic style mein usse bhi dustbin mein phek degi. Hospital ke records mein tu 'Dustbin Champion' ban jayegi."

Vani rolled her eyes. "Ha ha, very funny. Waise bhi, mujhe lagta hai is hospital ne mujhe drama queen ka crown already de diya hai."

Priya leaned in with a grin. "Crown? Arey madam, yeh toh sirf trailer hai. Picture abhi baaki hai."

Vani was about to retort when Vinay walked in, holding a samosa plate like he'd just won a trophy.

"Arre, tum dono yahan aaram se gupshup kar rahi ho aur mujhe neeche wahan drama ke baad akela chhod diya?" he said, plopping into the chair beside them.

Priya smirked. "Drama ke time tu tha kahan? Hume toh sirf tere 'meri kamar' waale dialogue ki yaad hai."

Vinay made a face. "Woh toh strategy thi. Main tum dono ka attention divert kar raha tha."

Vani nearly choked on her bite. "Attention divert? Mere peeche chhupna strategy hai? Tum kya kindergarten ki internship pe aaye ho?"

"Arre, main toh gentleman hoon. Ladies first," Vinay said with a grin, taking a bite of his samosa.

Priya shook her head. "Gentleman ya scared-man?"

Vani laughed. "Bas bas... warna next time fight hui toh main tujhe first line mein khada kar dungi. Phir pata chalega strategy ka."

Vinay pointed his samosa at her. "Haan, lekin mujhe dustbin mein mat phek dena. Tumhari strength ka mujhe ab andaza ho gaya hai."

Vani smirked. "Dustbin? Tumhe toh main recycle bin mein daal dungi next time."

Priya burst out laughing, nearly spilling her chai. "Arey bas karo tum dono, warna break khatam hone se pehle hi ek aur wrestling match shuru ho jayega."

Vinay opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, a junior nurse came rushing in.

"Vani mam...... Dr. Dilip ne bulaya hai. New surgeon aagaye hain."

Vani froze mid-bite. "Itni jaldi? Maine socha do din baad aayenge."

Nurse shrugged. "Abhi lift se aa rahe hain... upar hi Dr. Dilip ke saath."

Vinay leaned back dramatically. "Lo, ab shuru hoga asli tamasha."

Priya gave him a look. "Round One shuru hone se pehle tu chup kar, warna...."

Vani rolled her eyes but could feel her stomach twist. "Mujhe toh bas ye hope hai ki banda normal nikle... koi akdu-gussail na ho."

Vinay grinned. "Aur agar hua toh?"

Vani grabbed his samosa and took a huge bite. "Toh fir... hospital mein entertainment ka naya season shuru."

They all laughed, but Vani's mind was already running wild with possibilities.

After 10 minutes,

Vinay came back balancing a cup of coffee like it was some precious trophy.

"Dekho, aaj bina giraye le aaya," he said proudly.

Vani glanced at him. "Waah... miracle. Is achievement pe toh tujhe award milna chahiye."

Priya smirked. "Haan, 'Best Coffee Carrier of the Year'."

Vinay sat down, ignoring the sarcasm. "Waise, suna hai naye surgeon ka introduction aaj cancel ho gaya."

Vani almost did a little happy dance in her chair. "Thank God! Mujhe do din ka bonus mil gaya mentally prepare hone ka."

Priya teased, "Mental preparation? Tu kya exam dene wali hai?"

"Exam se easy hota banda handle karna... specially jab pata nahi banda sweet hai ya khadus," Vani replied, stirring her tea.

Vinay sipped his coffee dramatically. "Mujhe lagta hai khadus hi hoga... warna tere life mein balance kaise banega?"

Vani threw him a napkin. "Tu na... mujhe shanti se chai peene de."

Priya laughed. "Shanti aur Vani... contradictory words."

Vani smiled innocently. "Mere sath normal tab hota hai jab main so rahi hoti hoon."

Vinay: "Aur woh bhi guarantee nahi hogi ."

"Us din to bade casually baat kar raha tha... aaj dekho, roasting hi band nahi kar raha," Vani said, glaring at Vinay.

"Hehehe... vo first day tha. Aaj ke stunt dekh ke maja aa gaya waise," Vinay replied, sipping his coffee with a smirk.

Priya chimed in, "Haan, tujhe dekh ke lagta hai tujhe internship 'comedy club' mein karni chahiye thi."

Vani rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

"Aaaa... kya laga ke ghoom rahi hai tu? Face pe kya chipka rakha hai?"

Vani wrinkled her nose as she stared at the screen of her phone.

Swara, on the other side of the video call, rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Face pack hai, Vani. Date pe ja rahi hoon Varun ke saath. Sundar bhi toh dikhna chahiye, na?"

Vani burst out laughing. "Yaar tu bas room ke bahar mat nikalna. Kahin koi dar ke behosh na ho jaye!"

"Tumne mujhe mazaak banane ke liye video call kiya tha?" Swara said, fake-offended.

"Ohhh sorry, sorryyyy." Vani tried to control her giggles.

"Waise sun, we're going to a party tonight. Maine dress ki photo bheji hai - zara bata, kaunsi hairstyle suit karegi?"

Swara opened the image. "Hmm... I think you should leave your hair open with a middle partition. Thode soft curls kar lena. Bohot achha lagega."

"I was thinking the same, but was a bit confused," Vani said, reassured.

"Aur Pranvi kahaan hai?" Swara asked.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Lo! Shaitaan ka naam liya aur shaitaan haazir," Vani said with a wicked grin.

Swara chuckled.

Vani opened the door.

"Hatt na zara! Pehle hi late ho gayi hoon. Itna saara ready hona hai!" Pranvi brushed past her, dumped her bag on the bed, and stormed straight into the bathroom.

"What happened to her?" Swara asked, confused.

"No idea," Vani shrugged.

A few minutes later, Pranvi came out, wiping her face.

"Tujhe kya ho gaya hai? Kya tsunami aayi hai? Thoda aram se ready ho na!" Vani said.

"It's already 7:30. Ishan will come to pick us up at 8. If we're late, it'll be a mess!" Pranvi said, flustered.

"Teri shaadi ka muhurat nahi hai jo thoda late hone se bigad jaayega."

Swara rolled her eyes on the call.

"Half an hour idhar-udhar ho jaye toh koi tabahi nahi aa jaayegi."

"Haan!" Vani agreed, flopping on the bed.

"Achha baba! Ab hato. Let me iron the dress," Pranvi said, laughing a little now.

"Waise, tum dono ne bataya hi nahi kiski party mein ja rahe ho?" Swara asked, sipping something from her cup.

"Vo Ishan ki friend hai, uska birthday hai," Pranvi replied.

"Aur haan, you know, she's planning to propose to her boyfriend for marriage tonight!" Vani added with excitement.

"Aur pata hai?" Pranvi leaned in, grinning,

"There's a theme, you have to come with a partner."

"Ohhh wow! But tum dono toh single ho. Partner kahan se laoge?" Swara teased.

Pranvi gave her a look.

"Arey, it's not like only couples can come. Koi bhi fake partner le jaa sakte hain," she explained, shrugging.

"Okay okay, chill. I was just joking." Swara smiled.

"Toh kaun hai tum dono ke fake partners?"

"Mera toh Ishan hai," Pranvi said, too quickly.

Swara raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Aur iska?" she pointed at Vani.

"Aur kaun? Vahi chuhe ka sautela bhai."

Vani rolled her eyes.

"Hein?! Kaun?" Swara blinked, confused.

"Aman ki baat kar rahi hai," Pranvi said, giggling.

"Ek minute! Aman bhi wahi hai? Tum logon ne bataya hi nahi!" Swara looked shocked.

"Badi lambi kahani hai," Vani said, sighing. "Fursat se sunana padega."

"Achha bye now! Late ho raha hai, ready hona hai!"

Pranvi snatched the phone from Vani and ended the call.

Vani was still fixing her dress in the mirror. Her hair was open, cascading around her shoulders like a waterfall, but she hadn't secured them yet. Her makeup was still half done, and her mind was racing faster than the curling wand heating up.

Will I look good with him?

Is this eyeshadow too much? Or too less?

Winged eyeliner or straight?

Pranvi thinking.

"Ab kab tak ghooregi khud ko? Aise dekhne se shakal ni badal jayegi. Jo hai, vo hi rahegi," Vani said, flopping beside Pranvi on the bed.

"Aise kaise?" Pranvi huffed. "Itni achhi dress ke saath bridal makeup thodi kar lungi! Thoda toh match hona chahiye!"

"Tu hatt, mujhe karne de," Vani said, shifting closer like a woman on a mission.

Her hands moved like an expert - precise, confident, and fast. Watching her felt like watching an artist bring a canvas to life.

"Wowww... ye tune kiya?" Pranvi asked, surprised as she looked at her own reflection.

"Nahi, kaam wali bai aayi thi make-up karne," Vani said dryly. "Obviously main hi karungi!"

"Arey, mera bhi kar de na. Itna accha lag raha hai! Kab seekha tune?"

Pata nahi... kaise ban gaya. Pichhli baar to kamolika ban gayi thi!" Vani blinked in disbelief at her own glow-up.

Just then, Pranvi's phone rang - somewhere beneath the chaos of clothes, brushes, jewellery, and hair tools spread like a battlefield.

"Phone kahaan gaya?" she mumbled, searching like a madwoman.

A car horn blared outside.

"Shayad Ishan aa gaya!" Pranvi panicked.

"To jaa na, balcony me bol de thoda rukne ko," Vani suggested, still calm.

"Me... main nahi jaungi," Pranvi said nervously.

"Kyu?"

"Sharam aati hai..."

"Kyu? Vo barat leke thodi aaya hai ki tu dulhan banke sharma rahi hai! Jaake bas bolna hai wait kare," Vani rolled her eyes.

"Tu hamesha shaadi waale taane kyu deti hai? Tu hi jaa!"

"Haan ja rahi hoon! Chilla kyu rahi hai?" Vani said, getting up, but before she could take a step, the phone rang again. This time, Pranvi found it under a pillow .

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hum bahar khade hain. Kitna time lagega?" Ishan's voice came through.

"Bas... ten minutes. Aa rahe hain abhi!" she replied nervously.

"Okay," he said simply.

Beside him, Aman was leaning against the car, clapping his hands together while swatting mosquitoes.

"Andar nahi bulaya ?" Aman asked.

"Nahi... lagta hai busy hain dono," Ishan shrugged.

"Koi baat nahi... aaj yeh bhi experience ho gaya - do ladkiyon ka ghar ke bahar intezaar karna," Aman smirked.

They both chuckled.

Back inside,

"Yaar, zara yeh clip laga de mere baalon mein," Pranvi asked, holding it awkwardly.

"Kyu? Aise hi rehne de. Achha lag raha hai," Vani replied.

"Achha... okay," she nodded, stealing a look at herself in the mirror again.

"Yaar... mera locket kahan gaya?" Vani asked, digging into the mess.

"Aur meri earrings?" Pranvi added, looking under cushions.

Outside, Aman was practically performing karate on mosquitoes.

"Yaar, ye machchhar tak party karne a gaye mere sath... lekin yeh dono abhi tak nahi aayi," Aman grumbled.

"Ruko, main call karta hoon," Ishan said, dialling Pranvi.

No answer.

He tried again. Still no response.

Then he called Vani.

"Haan Ishan, bolo?" she answered.

"Kitna time lagega?" he asked, trying to sound patient.

"Mujhe kya pata, Pranvi se poochho. Wahi laga rahi hai time!" she replied, and without waiting, threw the phone at Pranvi, hitting her arm.

"Aaah! Tune earrings ke chakkar mein meri bhi kho di!" Vani yelled.

"Toh dhyan rakhna chahiye tha na! Kisne bola tha waha rakhne?" Pranvi shot back.

"Tune kyun meri jewellery uthayi?"

"Toh tune mera makeup bhi uthaya tha na!"

"Achha! Tune mera hairdryer use nahi kiya tha kya?"

"Tu meri pins bhi toh le gayi thi!"

"Aur tune meri moisturiser bhi toh..."

Outside, Ishan held the phone away from his ear.

"Yeh toh full family fight ho raha hai," Aman whispered.

Finally, Pranvi grabbed the phone and realised Ishan was still on the line.

"Hello, Ishan we-"

"Take your time," Ishan interrupted, calmly. "We're waiting."

Click.

Pranvi stared at her phone. Then turned to Vani.

"Hum lad kyun rahe the?"

"Bhool gayi main," Vani blinked.

"Acha chhod! Earrings dhoond!"

"Haan!"

After a five-minute hunt through the chaos, they finally found everything, fixed their jewellery, and got ready.

Vani adjusted her heels.

Her phone buzzed again - Mummy calling.

"Hello, Mummy?" she said, now soft-spoken and calm.

"Kya kar rahi hai? So rahi hogi pakka! Hey bhagwan, kaisi ladki di hai mujhe. Hamesha alas chhaya rehta hai!" Meera said.

"Mummy! Main kya aapko Kumbhkaran lagti hoon?"

"Na..."

Meera replied sweetly.

"Toh fir?"

"Uski behen lagti hai."

Pranvi burst into laughter in the background.

"Maaa!" Vani whined.

"Khair, khana khaya?" her mom asked.

"Nahi, aaj ek birthday party mein ja rahe hain."

"Achha... thik hai. Ghar jaldi aana."

"Hmm, okay."

Call ended.

The girls finally took one long look in the mirror - makeup done, accessories in place, hair curled and set.

They were ready.

Thanks for reading 😊

Byeiiiii💗