𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 ♡ - | CHAPTER 59 |

Array
(
[text] =>

7 YEARS LATER-

The hospital was quiet, like most days. Not silent-but filled with low sounds-machines beeping, nurses talking softly, someone walking fast down the hallway.

I walked slowly through the corridor. Everything looked the same-white walls, dull lights, the same plastic chairs that were always either too cold or too hard. People were sitting on them like always-waiting. Some with tired eyes, some looking at the floor, and some clinging to hope.

These walls had seen a lot. So had I.

There was one chair near a plant that I’ll never forget. I had sat there after a patient died on my third night shift. I didn’t cry. I didn’t speak. I just sat. For hours.

Near the nurse’s desk, there was a small mark on the wall-a kid once drew a smiley face there with a crayon while waiting. It stayed there for weeks. I liked it. When they cleaned it off, the wall felt too empty.

As I passed the children’s ward, I heard a small laugh. A kid, probably playing or just happy for a moment. That sound, so light and free,like they didn’t really belong here. But sometimes, in this heavy place, it slips in.

I adjusted my stethoscope. The weight of it reminded me why I was here. Being a doctor isn’t always about curing people. Sometimes it’s about sitting beside them. Telling the truth gently. Staying a little longer when someone’s scared or lonely.

Hospitals aren’t just buildings for treatment. They are full of stories. Some stories end with smiles and thank yous. Some….don’t.

I walked into the staff room, placed my bag down, and sat on the chair. My back hurt. My feet were sore. But I was used to it.

This was just another day.

Another story.

And I was still standing, still doing my part.

I leaned back and closed my eyes, just for a minute.

Eight months.

That’s how long I had been here.

A small hospital in a quiet village, surrounded by fields and dusty roads. The mobile network was weak here, but people’s feelings were strong and real.

It wasn’t part of the original plan.

I was supposed to be working at my father’s hospital in the city-freshly graduated, ready to start my post-graduation residency. Everything was lined up. Everything looked perfect from the outside.

But plans change.

So, I worked just for three months in my father’s hospital but then i signed up for a one-year medical outreach program instead-serving in remote areas. It wasn’t an impulsive decision. It was something I had thought through. Quietly. Alone.

Shruti would always joke, “People come to rural camps to gain experience, not run from luxury hospitals.”

I never corrected her.

Let them think whatever they wanted.

I didn’t owe anyone an explanation.

Besides, it’s not uncommon-young doctors go to village camps for exposure. Right?

“Last adrak wali chai in this dusty old place?” Shruti asked, handing me a steel cup with a grin.

“Last? I am pretty sure the taste of this tea is permanently printed on my tongue,” I said, sipping it as a smile plastered over my face.

And i know it. This one single cup of chai can give me the ultimate level of peace.

She laughed, “You know, when you arrived here, we all thought you’d leave in a week. With your city shoes, neat bags, and that clean freak look.”

“I was that obvious?” I asked as a soft chuckle escaped from my lips.

When I first joined this hospital, people used to talk about me a lot. Honestly, I became one of the main gossip topics around here.

“Totally,” she smirked.

“But then you shocked us all. You didn’t just stay-you blended in like you belonged here from the start,” she said, her voice filled with pride. “That’s what everyone likes about you.”

I smiled, sipping the strong ginger sweet tea.

“You sure you are ready to go back?” she asked.

“Hmm,” i nodded.

I glanced at the fading sky above the hospital gates from the window.

This place had left its mark on me. The long nights, emergency calls, dusty roads, and faces that remembered you even after a single injection-it had all been different. Real.

I wasn’t sure I was ready to return to fluorescent lights and polished corridors.

But that’s the thing about life-it moves, with or without your permission.

I had completed my graduation, and now I am in my first year of PG residency. After finishing my graduation, the first thing I did was to join a hospital but I worked there for a few months and then came here.

My brother didn’t want me to. He tried to stop me, and said it wasn’t safe. But I was stubborn. I needed a distraction-from everything maybe I want to take a break. So I packed my bags and went to this small village hospital.

And I stayed.

“I am going to miss you,” a shruti said, and hugged me tightly from behind.

I smiled and hugged her back.

We met eight months ago, and somehow-we just clicked. She was from this village, but had done her medical college in a city not far from here. She was the definition of kindness….unless you annoyed her. Then she had zero filter. She would say exactly what she felt, right in front of everyone.

Honestly, I admired her for it.
Me? I was still the old Ruhii. The one who juggled ten thoughts inside her head before saying one out loud. But if something was truly wrong, I wouldn’t stay quiet either. That’s growth, I guess.

“Did you finish packing? When’s your flight?” she asked, pulling back as I moved toward the curtain and started changing out of my scrubs.

“Yeah, all packed. My flight’s in five hours. I will leave in an hour, just have to wrap up a few paper formalities,” I said, frowning when she didn’t reply.

I was halfway done tying my hair when I heard her voice again-playful this time.

“Dr. Ruhanika”

I turned. She was standing there with a mischievous smile.

“What now?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Just come with me,” She grabbed my hand.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You will see,” she grinned, practically dragging me down the hallway.

And then I heard it.

Cheering. Loud claps. A small burst of party poppers.

I stepped outside and froze.

Kids from the village, patients, and villagers-all gathered. They had set up a small farewell celebration for me.

I stood there, stunned, as one of the little kids ran up and handed me a handmade card.

My heart softened.

After the small celebration at the medical camp, I wrapped up all the formalities, waved goodbye to the team, and headed straight to the airport.

The entire journey back was a blur.

There was a strange, warm feeling in my chest.
I was going home.

Home.

The word felt heavy, comforting, and unfamiliar all at once. I had spent the whole year buried in the routine of the hospital, in endless shifts and village visits and emergency calls at 3 a.m. I had poured myself into it-maybe too much. I kept telling myself I was healing through service. But the truth?

I was running.

And now I was returning to the very place I had tried to forget. Or maybe, tried too hard to hold on to.

Because after that day, I left for college and didn’t come back home for two whole years. I kept trying to avoid it-avoiding my own family, my own people. But how long could I really run?

There was a reason I had to go back.

Yes, the reason I came to this village wasn’t just about work or peace.
It was something else.

Stop thinking, Ruhii.

I dozed off mid-flight, waking only when the plane jolted during descent.

As soon as i landed, I pulled out my phone and dialed Bhai.

“When are you coming?” I asked the moment he picked up, not even bothering with a greeting. My voice came out lower, sleepier than I expected.

“Arrey waah, no hi-hello, straight to commands?” Bhai teased, his voice light.

A small smile broke across my lips. I missed him so much, “I am dead tired, Bhai. Just tell me.”

“Actually…” He paused, and instantly, every cell in my body went alert. “Your Bhabhi is not feeling well. I am at the hospital with her.”

“What? What happened? Is she in pain? Why didn’t you call me earlier-“

“Ruhii,” he interrupted gently, “she is fine. Just a little uneasy. And I didn’t want to leave her alone.”

I breathed out slowly, pressing my thumb against my forehead. “Okay… okay. Take care of her.”

“I will. And I asked Tanya to come pick you up.”

My eyebrows shot up, “Tanya? TANYA is in Delhi?”

Heads turned toward me. An aunty in a saree gave me the side-eye, clutching her handbag closer. I muttered an apology and turned toward the exit.

“Yeah, she is in delhi for a month,” he replied.

This girl didn’t told me that she is here.

But still a grin tugged at my lips before I could stop it. The last time I saw Tanya was two years ago. I had no idea sh would come back. I had missed her like hell.

I dragged my suitcase through the arrival gates, looking around. And then I saw her.

Wearing sunglasses that slightly slipped down her nose and a classy beige co-ord set paired with a soft silk scarf, she stood near the arrival waving at me like a lunatic.

“RUHIIIII!!!”

She sprinted toward me and practically tackled me in a hug.

“You are back!”

“You are back!”

We both yelled at the same time and instantly laughed, like no time had passed between us.

She pulled me into a warm, tight hug.

“I missed you-like I really missed you,” she said with a soft, emotional tone.

“Missed you too,” I smiled.

“When did you come back?” I asked, dragging my suitcase along as she held my hand and helped me cross the road.

Yeah, I know. I still get scared crossing roads. Not everyone gets it, but for me… it’s just one of those fears I never outgrew.

“I got a job as a forensic assistant at CFSL Delhi, under the CBI,” she said, grinning from ear to ear, her eyes shining with excitement.

I froze for a second, just to let it sink in. A proud smile stretched across my face. I have known her she always glued to crime thrillers, always guessing the killer before anyone else, and absolutely obsessed with mysteries.

People might see it as a small job or just the beginning. But I know her journey. I know how hard she worked for this. Those long nights of studying, the silence during exam seasons, the way she had disappear into books-it wasn’t easy.

And especially after what happened after school…
I let out a quiet sigh. I didn’t want to let the past shadow this moment. My best friend is happy. That’s all I wanted.

But still, deep down, I knew she wasn’t completely okay. She might smile, joke, and carry herself like she’s got it all together-but I know her. She is broken somewhere inside.

I wish I had been there when she needed me most.
But I wasn’t.

When I was admitted to the hospital, she was silently holding me up, being there for me-while she herself was falling apart. And I didn’t even notice. I was too lost in my own pain, too out of it to understand anything.

It still hurts me to this day.
That I couldn’t be there for her.
That I didn’t even know she was hurting.

She looked at me just then, maybe sensing the shift in my thoughts. I quickly shook my head with a smile, brushing it away. I didn’t want to bring up the past. I just wanted to be present, here, with my best friend-hoping she is truly happy.

She walked ahead and, like her usual dramatic self, flung open the car door and made a fake bow.

“Your ride, madam,” she teased.

I laughed and got into the seat.

And then it started-our endless chatter. We talked about everything. People we hadn’t seen in years, the crazy things we used to do, and all the grown-up stuff we were dealing with now.

It felt like nothing had changed at all.

We were still us.

It felt like the first time I had ever hesitated to start a conversation with someone, but here I was, blabbering nonstop.

Funny how things change.

I tried to call Vani, but I guess she was asleep. Typical Vani, always taking the sleep route when there is no drama.

I heard the screeching sound of tires, and I frowned. Tanya handed me a small box.

I raised an eyebrow at her, and she rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.

“You must be hungry. Let’s have a mood-lifter breakfast,” she said as she turned the car. I couldn’t argue-I was starving.

I opened the box and immediately saw the cheesecake inside. I couldn’t help but smile. Tanya, of course, knew exactly how to lift my spirits. She didn’t just bring me food, she brought my comfort food.

“Thank you for this. I really needed it,” I murmured, taking a bite.

“Yeah, I made it just for you,” Tanya winked, and I chuckled at her.

How could I not? I took another bite of the cheesecake.

Damn, it was so flavorful.

“It’s good,” I said, offering her a bite too.

She took a bite, then leaned back, eyes focused on the road.

Out of nowhere, she spoke again, her tone casual but with an underlying hint of something deeper, “Yeah, I know it wasn’t quite like the way he made it. But it’s still eatable.”

My hand froze mid-air, the cheesecake momentarily forgotten. The comment hit me harder than I expected. But something about them made my chest tighten.

My mind was instantly flooded with memories-the way he used to make it, those quiet moments we shared.

I didn’t reply…..just took another bite, letting the flavor do what words couldn’t. It wasn’t the same, of course.

He had a way of getting it just right, like he knew exactly how I liked it without me ever saying it out loud.
Funny how even small things carry echoes.

But I shoved those thoughts away, focusing on the cheesecake.

I took another bite, hoping to drown out the memories.

Tanya noticed the shift in my mood and, after a few moments of silence, called my name softly, “Ruhanika…”
I snapped out of my trance.

“Hmm?”

She hesitated for a second before speaking again, “I was saying, why don’t you-“

“No need,” I interrupted, already knowing where the conversation was heading.

She sighed dramatically, “When did you become so stubborn?”

“I am not stubborn,” I said, but my voice trailed off. I wasn’t stubborn… I just didn’t know how to explain.

How could I say it out loud? How could I explain why I kept pushing everything-and everyone-away?
Tanya gave me a knowing look.

“Relax,” Her tone softened.

Just then, my phone rang, and the sharp sound of the ringtone felt like a jolt to my system. I hadn’t spoken to anyone that much in a whole year.

I stared at the screen, watching the name of the caller flash in front of me, and my heart raced.

Tanya glanced at me.

“Who is it?” she asked, sensing the change in my demeanor.

I turned my head away from her, pretending not to care.

“No one,” I muttered, not daring to look at the phone.

It rang again, this time with more urgency. The vibrations felt like they were echoing through me. I still didn’t pick up. The phone kept ringing for the next five minutes, but I ignored it, trying to push the anxiety away.

Then, in a moment of pure frustration, I snapped. I picked up the phone without checking the caller ID. “What the heck is wrong with you?” I almost yelled, my voice sharp.

“Damn, woman! Calm down!” came the voice I instantly recognized.

Vani.

“My eardrums almost exploded.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Why are you getting so hyper, Ruhii? You should stay away from short-tempered people. I miss my calm Ruhii,” a dramatic voice echoed through the phone.

“Are you trying to say I should avoid being with you, Vani?” I replied, raising an eyebrow and putting the call on the speaker. Tanya, sitting beside me, chuckled at my response.

“Wow, I am offended,” Vani gasped. “What do you mean I am short-tempered?”

And when I say she was exaggerating, I mean really exaggerating-like full-on movie drama mode.

“Yeah, says the woman who hospitalized her client for making an inappropriate comment,” Tanya remarked playfully.

Vani’s response was immediate, “That son of a-“

“Eii….No cursing, Vani,” I cut in, laughing, but I knew she would roll her eyes on the other end.

“Fine! That sada hua, useless magarmach deserved it. How dare he make those disgusting comments about me? Let the deal go! And you know what? He even made fun of my dress-my dress! That idiot clearly has no idea how expensive it was. Zero fashion sense. That outdated, tasteless magarmach, nonsensical, old-fashioned fool”

I burst out laughing, and I could hear Tanya’s soft chuckles too. Vani had this way of turning every complaint into a full-on drama performance.

“Wait,” Vani’s voice interrupted.

“Where are you guys? I heard noise. And….Tanya is with you? How can I not notice it before that it’s not a conference call.”

I turned to Tanya, holding up my phone, “Yeah, I’m back in Delhi. Tanya’s driving me home. Making me her passenger princess.”

Vani’s response was immediate, “WHAT?! You are really back? Wait, I am booking my tickets now. I’m coming over.”

We both laughed, and I felt a sense of warmth spread through me. It had been so long since I felt this relaxed around anyone.

“But don’t you have work?” I asked, watching Tanya pull into the parking lot in front of my society.

Vani sighed dramatically, “Nothing important. I’ll survive. What’s the point of being in Italy when you’re alone? I want to be there with you both-life here just sucks alone.”

I could almost picture her lounging on her bed, looking at the ceiling, tired of being alone.

“Isn’t Italy beautiful though?””I asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s beautiful, sure,” she replied, “But what’s the point of enjoying beauty when you have no one to share it with? Beauty’s only worth it when you have people you love around you.”

I nodded, understanding. She had a point. I smiled softly as Tanya parked the car.

“Did you have a meeting?” Tanya asked, cutting into the conversation.

Vani replied, “Yes, I just came home after my gallery session.”

“How’s everything going there?” I asked, but Vani’s response was filled with typical Vani drama.

“I have so much drama in my life right now, but I will tell you all when I get back to India. Not now.”

I exchanged a quick glance with Tanya. We both knew Vani, and this was just the beginning of whatever she was about to throw our way.

Let’s pray that we survived her new drama.

As Tanya put the car in park, I realized we had arrived. I stepped out of the car, feeling that familiar weight lifting off my shoulders as I approached my home.

Tanya walked over and gave me a tight hug, “Take care. I will see you soon. We will have a girls day out when Vani gets here.”

“Won’t you come inside?” I asked, a little surprised by her hesitation.

She awkwardly laughed, “Ah, Papa messaged me. He wants to meet urgently. I’ll catch you later, I promise.”

I nodded, though I could tell something was bothering her. She had been acting a bit strange. I didn’t know what was going on, but I would wait for her to tell me when she was ready.

As she drove away, I waved goodbye, watching her car disappear down the road. I turned to face my building, feeling the relief of being home again.

Once inside, the guard marked my entry, and I stood there for a moment, taking in the familiar surroundings. It felt different this time-quieter, calmer, but also heavier. I had a lot to process, but for now, I was just grateful to be back.

“Hello, uncle!” I said cheerfully as I entered the gate.

The security guard smiled warmly and replied, “Good to see you back, Ruhii.”

He gently patted my head.

I smiled back, remembering how six years ago, when he first joined, he was always grumpy. Honestly, if there was a competition for grumpiness, he and my brother would probably tie.

But funny thing is-he was never rude to me. Except that one day, when he kind of snapped at me for standing near the gate too long. But the next day? He smiled. And since then, we’ve been on friendly terms.

He has a granddaughter who used to visit sometimes-such a sweet little girl.

“How’s your granddaughter?” I asked.

“She is good,” he said, his face lighting up. “When she heard you were coming, she got so excited she didn’t even sleep.”

That made me smile, “Tell her to come soon! I brought gifts for her.”

He nodded, and I gave him a final smile before picking up my luggage and walking inside.

As I stepped in, a strange wave hit me-the feeling of being home. I hadn’t come back often in the past few years. College, internship, hospital job… I had too many excuses. Or maybe just one reason I couldn’t face.

I took a deep breath. And coughed.

Yep. That pollution-punch-in-the-lungs meant I was in Delhi.

My eyes, on their own, wandered down memory lane.
I tried not to look-I really did-but they betrayed me.
They landed right on his house.

It looked quiet… too quiet.
There was an emptiness clinging to the walls, something that made my chest tighten.
But I didn’t dare glance up at the first floor.

Why?
Because I was scared.
Scared that just one look would pull me back into everything.
Scared that I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together.

So I shut my eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and turned away.
My hand reached the gate of my own house. I pushed it open and rang the bell.

A familiar voice called out, and within seconds, Kaki came into view-her face lighting up with a big, warm grin.

“Come inside,” she said, pulling me into a hug. She tried to take my luggage but I stopped her.

“It’s okay kaki, I will do it.”

I stepped inside, and there she was-Prisha bhabhi. Sitting on the couch, typing furiously on her laptop. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she looked like she was plotting to sue someone.

Looks like she looked like she had come straight from the hospital-probably hadn’t even had time to change.

I looked at Kaki in order to ask the reason for her anger, who shook her head like this was normal.

I silently placed my luggage aside and walked over, “Bhoo.”

She jumped and gasped, then stared at me in shock.

“Ruhanika.”

She dropped her laptop like it offended her and opened her arms. I bent down, hugging her carefully around her sixth-month baby bump.

“Ahnn You are glowing,” I said with a teasing smirk.

She blushed, but then immediately scowled.

“What happened to your mood?” I asked as I sat beside her.

She sighed dramatically, “Your brother. Someday, I swear, I will beat him with a jhadu.”

I laughed, “why jhadu? Try a belan. More damage.’

“Good idea,” she said with a wicked grin.

“What did he do now?”

I asked carefully sitting beside her and took her medical reports which was kept on the table.

“After my check up, I told him I was craving spicy street food from my favorite place. You know what he said?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. Of course, I knew probably what he said.

“He said it’s UNHYGIENIC. Then ordered me a bowl of green vegetable salad,” She actually started tearing up.

Her mood swings are definitely on a peak level.

“Okay, okay bhabhi, Don’t cry. I will make you spicy chaat tomorrow. Whatever you want, just don’t cry, ” i tried to console her.

She wiped her eyes and patted her bump, “Your father is impossible.”

I nodded as if I was agreeing with my little unborn nephew/neice.

I smiled, glad to see her calm down.

“Deal,” she said. “You are making it tomorrow.”

“Yes madam. I will be your personal chef,” i said enthusiastically to which she burst into laughter.

Just then, I heard a noise from the kitchen. I walked over and saw a mess on the floor.

“Oops, I was trying to make your favorite cheesecake,” Dad said sheepishly, holding a bowl, “but the batter fell.”

I bent down to help him, “You didn’t go to the hospital today?”

“Nope. Took the day off. Because You were coming,” he replied his voice was low.

It still felt strange.

Not the smell of dessert in the air.
Not even seeing him in the kitchen, awkwardly handling utensils like they might break.

What felt strange… was that he took a day off.
For me.

He never used to do that.

But now, here he is-trying. Quietly. Hesitantly.

My heart felt tight. Not with anger anymore, just…..unfamiliarity. It’s been years since we are like this. It was like standing in a room you used to know by heart, only now everything’s moved just slightly.

And I didn’t know what to do with that. I smiled. I genuinely smiled.

“It’s okay. Tanya already treated me to cheesecake,” I said.

His face fell a little.

“But,” I added quickly, “you can make me truffle cake later. I won’t say no.”

That brought his smile back. And somewhere deep inside, it warmed me too-soft and quiet, like something settling into place.

From the way he looked at me, I could tell he wanted to say something. His eyes held words he hadn’t yet learned how to speak. His mouth opened slightly, then paused-as if unsure how to begin.

And me?

I wanted to hug him.

Not because it had been years.
But because as a daughter, I craved that comfort-the kind that doesn’t need words, the kind that feels like home even after all the distance.

I wanted to close that little gap between us, to show him that I noticed his effort.
But I couldn’t move.

Maybe that’s just how we are-he and I.

That’s the thing with us.
We share the same blood, the same stubborn silence, the same hesitation.

Kaki was preparing lunch in the kitchen, and I noticed brownies on the counter as he was hiding in a tiffin box.

“Prisha was craving those,” Dad said as if noticing my curious gaze.

“But your brother made her so mad she refused to eat. She told me to hide them from the little tornado,” he explained as a smile never left his face.

I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing exactly why our house is called the Brownie Fight Ring-it’s always a battle between an adult and a little tornado.

“Go and change,” he said, “Lunch will be ready soon. Your mom and Kunal will be home by evening.”

I nodded and picked up my luggage, walking toward my room.

When I opened the door, a wave of peace washed over me.

Everything was exactly the same. Except for a new bookshelf-guess someone still believes I read actual books apart from other books.

I sank into my bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the silence fill the room. Seven years had passed, yet when I looked back, it felt like nothing had truly changed.

Was it easy? Not even close. If anything, it was harder than I ever imagined.

At first, I treated Dad like he was some distant stranger. He’d try to talk, to make things right, but every time I felt his words coming, I’d shut him down. I didn’t want to hear it. It was easier to keep him at arm’s length than to face the hurt, the pain, the anger I couldn’t let go of. Two whole years went by before I could even manage a one-minute conversation with him, and even then, it was awkward, full of unsaid things.

With Mom, it was different. She was always there, never giving up on me, no matter how much I pushed her away. Her constant presence made it a little easier for us.

I couldn’t stop blaming myself for what happened between Dad and Kunal. I could still see them, so distant from each other after that fight. They didn’t speak for months, not a word and the reason was me. The silence between them was suffocating, and I felt like I was the cause of it all.

Every day, I lived with the weight of that guilt. I knew it wasn’t all my fault, but in my heart, I couldn’t help but believe I had some part in breaking them.

Eventually, I gave it a try. Slowly, things got better.

It’s been five years since I stopped medication.

I am better.

But the guilt? Still here. Still heavy.

I got up from my bed and walked toward the balcony, the soft afternoon sunlight spilling through the curtains. The quiet hum of the day-birds chirping, a distant honk, the gentle breeze-filled the air. I opened the balcony door and stepped out.

And there it was again.

His balcony.

Right across from mine. Same as always.

The white orchids stood tall in their pot, glowing in the golden light. They looked even brighter now-healthier, fuller, like they had only known warmth and care.

His balcony looked ordinary, maybe even empty to a stranger’s eye. But to me, it held pieces of the past I hadn’t dared to revisit. Conversations half-spoken, glances exchanged, and silences that said more than words ever could. And mostly-guilt and regret.

Now, standing here again, everything looked the same. And yet, nothing felt the same.

I leaned slightly forward on the balcony rail, letting the cool breeze hit my face when suddenly-a tiny pair of arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

A full blown smile instantly spread across my face.

I didn’t even need to look. I knew exactly who it was.

I turned around and bent slightly, only for him to jump into my arms like the little tornado he was.

He clung to me like a baby monkey, and I hugged him tighter, placing kisses on both his chubby cheeks.

“I missed you so much, baby,” I said, ruffling his already messed-up hair and planting a kiss on his forehead.

“When I heard you were back, I literally ran straight here,” he said with a proud grin, hugging me again.

I laughed, picking him up properly in my arms.

“Really? I thought you were angry with me for not coming sooner,” I faked a pout, exaggerating it like a cartoon character.

He pulled back slightly, narrowed his eyes, and scrunched his nose. Just like his father used to do.

“Oh yeah! I forgot that i was angry,” he said, trying to jump from my arms, but I held on tight.

“Stop it, Atharv. You will fall and get hurt,” I said, carrying him inside.

“Where were you, by the way?” I asked as I made him sit on my bed.

“I was at Nani’s house,” he said, swinging his legs like he was on a mini adventure.

“Was school off today?” I asked, brushing his curls back gently.

“Yup! It’s holiday!” he grinned, eyes sparkling.

His eyes were this warm shade of dark brown, like melted chocolate. His tiny curls framed his face like he was straight out of a baby shampoo commercial.

This kid is my daily dose of happiness-my walking, talking happy pill.

“Okay, where is my gift?” he asked, switching into serious mode like a businessman demanding his deal.

“You will have to wait a little bit,” I teased.

He pouted so hard, his face puffed up like a puffer fish. Adorable.

I gave in and kissed his cheek, “Patience, my little tornado.”

“Go check the small box I kept on the table,” I whispered dramatically.

And he zoomed out like a rocket.

“Careful, Atharv,” I shouted after him.

Of course, he didn’t listen.

I took a quick shower and had lunch. It was already late afternoon because Dad, in his ‘I am the MasterChef’ mode, insisted on cooking everything himself and made kaki sit on the table, making her more restless about the kitchen’s condition.

It turned into a mini food fest-all my favorites.

He had made everything I liked.

I stood there for a second, just staring.

He is trying to be better. Trying to fix things without saying much.

And suddenly, I didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

Maybe forgiveness doesn’t always come with big words and long apologies.

Sometimes… it comes with quietly remembering someone’s favorite food.

Prisha Bhabhi could barely eat anything because she feels nausea seeing the food was acting up again. She managed to eat a few bites after my constant nagging, then went to lie down. I tucked her in myself. She didn’t look well and had taken the day off too.

After lunch, I fed Atharv and made him nap beside me. Peace finally.

But obviously, that peace didn’t last.

About an hour later, the five-year-old tornado reappeared, jumping on the bed like it was a trampoline.

“Come onnnn! You promised you will play with me,” His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

How do I say no to that?

“Alright, alright! You win. And yes, it’s gift time too!”

He jumped in joy like he’d won the lottery and dragged me through the hallway.

We entered his play room, or as I liked to call it-Toy Kingdom. The boy could run a mini toy shop, I swear.

I handed him the gift, and he tore it open with the energy of a tiger.

His eyes widened in excitement, then confusion, and then he screamed, “I got two robots!”

Wait. Two?

I frowned, “Two? What do you mean?”

He crawled under the table like a soldier on a mission and came out with another robot-identical to the one I just gifted.

He beamed, “Now we can both play! You take one, I will take one. We will battle”

His toothless grin melted whatever irritation I felt.

So, yeah….we played.

Two grown-up-sized robots. Two kids. One actual child, one mentally still stuck at twelve-me.

We zoomed the robots across the room with the remotes, laughing every time one fell over.

After a while, we plopped down on the carpet, breathless.

“That was awesome,” I said, putting back the remote.

He nodded, “My robots are the best.”

“By the way, who gave you the other robot? And all these cars?” I asked, scanning the shiny new toy cars on the shelf.

His little face lit up, “Mamu gifted them to me! All of them!”

And just like that, my heart did a weird flop.

Oh.

Of course. Why wouldn’t he?

Just then, Bhabhi stormed in like a mini hurricane.

“Go to hell! Don’t come here! Whi par jam jaao tum,” she was yelling into her phone.

Danger alert. Because Bhabhi’s mood is off.

She flopped down on the couch.

“Don’t irritate me with your lame excuses, Vihu! If you don’t want to come back, then don’t bother at all. Freeze yourself wherever you are….I will manage just fine. In fact, I will happily transfer half your property under my name,” she snapped, barely noticing me.

My heart did that racing thing again.

She was talking to him.

And then after a little argument she sighed as she looked up, “Atharv, come here. Your Mamu wants to talk to you.”

The little tornado immediately ran from my lap to her.

Traitor.

Did he like him more than me?

Seriously, Ruhii? Are you jealous of this fact? my inner voice mocked.

Still….he is sitting there and gaining the attention of my baby….why doesn’t he come here himself and gain attention? Is this place suffocating him now?

We can do one thing let’s just sell all his video games too….at least we’ll make some money out of his absence if he’s so determined not to come back.

Wait, I have a better idea-he should have just gone to the zoo himself. Since his brain clearly works like a chimpanzee on vacation, at least he’d feel at home there.

I rolled my eyes as i could imagine what lame excuses he has given to bhabhi.

Before I could spiral further, Atharv held the phone out, “Ruhii Bua, please talk to mamu I want to go washroom.”

“Mumma chaliye na,” this little tornado dragged bhabhi and leaving me with this big trouble.

I just froze.

My hand reached out, desperate to pause, to stop, to do something… but of course, that’s when the phone decided to die.

Perfect timing.

I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh.

A moment later, bhabhi returned, and Atharv looked at me curiously.

“I-uh-battery died,” I mumbled, holding up the now black screen.

And bhabhi nodded.

Relief flooded me like someone popped a balloon inside my chest.

“Atharv, clean up your toys. Don’t trouble Bua,” Bhabhi said, standing up. “She just got here. Let her rest.”

“Yes, Mumma,” he chirped.

As Bhabhi left, I called out, “Atharv?”

He looked at me with those innocent eyes.

I crouched down to his level and said seriously, “Okay, big question. Who do you like more? Me or your Mamu?”

He frowned, thinking hard, “Mamu…” he started to say, but I gave him the look.

“Think again,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

He smiled brightly and said, “You!’ showing off his cute toothless grin.

“Pakka?” I asked, pretending to doubt him.

“Pakka!” he nodded confidently.

“But… Mamu teaches me how to play video games, and you just make me study!” he said, pouting like he was trying to negotiate.

I gasped and put my hand over my heart, “What?! You are choosing your stupid Mamu over me?”

Great. Even a five-year-old doesn’t pick sides.

He shrugged and said, “I am confused…”

I sighed dramatically.

Why am I feeling jealous?

“Maybe both?” he said, giving me a look like he solved the world’s biggest problem.

I stared at him, “Both? Seriously?”

“Can’t you choose one?” I asked as a dramatic expression plastered on my face.

He shrugged again, “Life is tough, bua.”

This little tornado.

He didn’t even see 0.5% of his life and found his life hard.

He nodded proudly but then kissed my cheek, “but I like you more, don’t tell mamu otherwise he will start sulking.”

I grinned.

Yes i won.

Wait. What the hell I was doing?

But I am my nephew’s favourite more than him.

“It’s okay, baby, I won’t tell him,” I mumbled, ruffling his hair.

“Let’s clean up together.”

After cleaning, I dragged my emotionally confused self to my room and flopped onto the bed.

I didn’t feel so great.

My phone rang.

I ignored.

It rang again.

And again i ignored it.

One look at the name and my blood boiled.

I switched it off.

Go to hell.

A knock interrupted my sulking. I opened the door and saw Bhai standing there, tired but smiling.

I instantly hugged him, “Bhai!”

“How are you?” he asked, softly stroking my hair.

“Fine as usual,” I said, sitting on the bed. He joined me.

“So, you’ve decided to join the hospital again?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Does Dad know?”

I froze.

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted him to know…but more than that, I wanted him to be proud of me.

Not because I needed his approval-not anymore.

Earlier, everything I did was just to get a smile from him, a few words of appreciation, some proof that I mattered. But now? I wanted to do this for him. For us.

I I never really had that close father-daughter bond with him. We didn’t share stories, or laugh a lot together. It wasn’t bad….just quiet. Distant. A little cracked.

The kind where you sit at the same table, but still feel miles apart. He tried-he really did. For years now, he had been trying in his own slow, awkward way. No big apologies, no emotional breakdowns. Just small efforts. He never asked me to forgive him. He never even said the words I thought I wanted to hear. But he stayed. Patiently. Silently.

And I? I kept avoiding him like he was a chapter I didn’t want to read again. Too many mixed feelings, too much silence, too much guilt.

But lately…I want to try. Maybe I’ve changed, or maybe I just stopped running. I can’t keep shutting him out forever. Maybe, if I joined the hospital… it would make him happy. Maybe we could share something again.

Bhai glanced at me, sensing the mess in my head.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said gently, breaking the silence.

He exhaled slowly.

“You have avoided this place, him… everything. And yet, you still came back. That says more than anything else. I know it’s hard, but he sees it, Ruhii. He notices. Even if he doesn’t say it.”

My throat tightened, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I leaned over and hugged him, holding on like I used to when things got too loud in my head.

“I want to fix things,” I whispered.

“I know,” he whispered back, holding me close.

“And that’s enough for now.”

He pulled back, brushing a hand over my hair.

“Mom’s waiting for you downstairs. Go meet her.”

I let out a soft laugh and nodded.

Maybe…just maybe…this home wasn’t so suffocating anymore.

•••••

It had been a month since I started working at Dad’s hospital.

He had no idea at first-just thought I was staying busy. I hadn’t told anyone. I simply walked into the interview room one morning, quietly, with shaking hands and unsure steps… and somehow, I got selected.

When Dad eventually found out, the smile on his face was something I will carry with me forever. A soft pride flickered in his eyes.

Working beside him… it feels right. Like I’m not just holding onto the pieces of my past-I’m slowly building something new.

Sometimes between rounds, I study in the doctor’s room. And when I get answers wrong, he gently corrects me. No scolding. No taunts. Just patient guidance. He isn’t just my father here-he is my teacher, my teammate.

And honestly… I am not miserable anymore.

Sure, I’m still catching up in many ways. I still trail behind others. But at least now, I’m not running someone else’s race.

Remember my happy pills diary?

Last time, it had only 52 pages. Now, I’ve filled six whole diaries-overflowing with little joys, stolen laughter, and quiet victories. If someone had told seventeen-year-old Ruhanika that one day she would smile like this while working with her father, she would’ve sighed and said, “Impossible.”

But here I am.

I was on my OPD round when I walked into a patient section-clipboard in hand, stethoscope brushing against my coat. The hallway buzzed softly with life.

My eyes landed on a woman.

She looked around her mid-20s-her face was pale, lips dry. Every movement made her wince. But what caught my eye was the man beside her. He wasn’t doing much-just resting his hand behind her as she tried her leg exercises with the nurse.

His presence wasn’t loud, but it was steady….comforting, like a quiet kind of safety.

There was tenderness in the way he stayed. In how he didn’t rush her. Just stood there, quiet, like a lighthouse in her storm.

And I don’t know why, but something in me shifted.

A soft smile formed on my lips.

How does it feel…to have someone stay? Not ask questions, not walk away. Just stay.

My hand instinctively went to my pocket, fingers brushing over my phone. But I didn’t take it out.

Instead, I turned toward the next patient.

I was finishing my rounds when a small voice called out,

I turned to see a little boy, no older than six, holding his stomach and looking very serious.

“Tell me, kiddo, where exactly does it hurt?” I asked, kneeling beside him and gently pressing his tummy at different spots.

He winced and pointed to his lower right side.

I raised an eyebrow and he nodded.

Flipping through the papers, I saw his CBC and ultrasound results – all clear. No signs of appendicitis or anything serious.

I looked up with a gentle smile. “Looks like your tummy’s upset maybe you’re not drinking enough water. Oh, and what about your diet? Have you been eating lots of fruits and green veggies?”

He scrunched up his nose, avoiding eye contact

I sighed, catching him red-handed.

I scolded him slightly, “Well, that’s probably why your tummy is upset. Junk food isn’t kind to our body. You need to eat healthy food to feel better – green vegetables, fruits, and lots of water.”

He looked at me with big, honest eyes and said, “But doctor….I saw you eating chocolate earlier!”

I blinked, surprised. His mother standing nearby looked a bit surprised too, and the nurse beside me stifled a laugh.

What?

I only keep chocolate with me because it helps when I feel stressed while studying.

‘She is lying-she literally had chocolate right before coming here,’ my brain screamed, suddenly acting like a witness in a courtroom drama.

Stupid brain.

He folded his arms like a tiny judge and said, “Doctors told us not to eat junk food, but they themselves eat it. That’s not fair.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his little accusation, “Well, even doctors need a treat sometimes. But remember, treats are for special days, not every day.”

“Mujhe shak ho raha hai aap par,” he declared seriously.

Kids these days.

‘I am telling you, this kid is going to be a detective or a lawyer someday,’ my brain jumped in again.

Shut up, brain. Not now.

Now my brain has started seeing the future too.

Great. Just what I needed-brain plus astrologer mode activated.

Wait. Should I start part time job….shut up Ruhanika. Focus.

“But uh, you can have a little, little bit in a week, only,” I tried to negotiate, and he nodded thoughtfully.

He grinned, “Okay, doctor! I will eat my veggies… but you have to eat less chocolate too!”

I sighed, liking his reply and chuckled, “Deal.”

•••••

I was exhausted-physically, emotionally, and on a soul level. My brain felt like mashed pulp, and my body had switched to autopilot long ago.

Three night shifts back-to-back with barely a few hours of sleep in between. I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast unless you counted that chocolate I’d sneaked in between rounds, which apparently, my stomach didn’t.

Just as I leaned against the wall outside the OPD to breathe for a moment, my phone rang.

“Ruhii, can you go and check a patient on the top floor section?” Ishita’s voice came through. Calm, efficient.

I frowned. “Top floor? Isn’t that your department?”

“It is. But it’s an emergency case. I would’ve checked, but I’ve got an urgent surgery. Please, just see him once.”

My shift just got over.

It’s okay.

I didn’t argue. There was no energy left in me to say no.

“Okay,” I murmured, pushing myself off the wall.

The elevator ride felt like a slow march to nowhere. My limbs felt too heavy.

The top floor always had this unsettling silence after evening. It reminded me of the haunted school stories-where everyone avoided one classroom, whispering about ghosts and shadows.

This floor was that classroom.

And to top it off, I distinctly remembered that the room I was walking towards had been shut down a year ago. Maintenance issues or something. So why was there a patient here?

A chill crawled up my spine, but I told myself to get over it. I was a doctor, not a ghostbuster.

The receptionist pointed to the last room in the corridor. Of course. The creepiest one.

“Just one quick check and I am out of here,” I muttered to myself.

I pushed the door open without looking inside, eyes fixed on the file that lay on the desk.

No case history.

Still, I signed the sheet, wrote the date, and grabbed my stethoscope.

“Can you tell me what’s the issue you’re facing?” I asked, eyes still on the file.

Then i heard footsteps.

Soft.

Measured.

Coming closer.

Something shifted in the air.

My heart stuttered.

The footsteps stopped too close-way too close.

My fingers reacted before my mind did. I slipped my hand into my coat pocket, feeling the familiar handle of the scalpel. Just in case.

Another breath. Another heartbeat.

Then I turned swiftly, scalpel half-raised-

But before i turned completely a hand caught mine.

Firm. Calm. Controlled.

And before I could even see the person clearly, another hand snaked around my waist from behind, pulling me back.

I froze.

My back collided with a warm chest.

My breath caught somewhere between my throat and lungs.

The scalpel slipped from my loosened grip as he gently took it and placed it aside on the desk.

But the hands wrapped securely around my waist. Holding me like something precious.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

My brain screamed to react-to turn. But my body? It betrayed me completely.

Because….that scent.

That goddamn scent.

My muscles relaxed against that person.

That familiar cologne… the warmth… the way his presence wrapped around me like home.

My heart was racing now for entirely different reasons.

And still, I didn’t move. I couldn’t. Not when something in me knew.

His breath brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine-warm, familiar, dangerously comforting.

And then came the words my heart wasn’t ready for but my soul had been craving.

“I missed you, Ruh.”

————————————
Finally Chapter 59….!!!!
So how was the chapter…??

Last line🥹😭❤️

I know little bit boring but it was first chp after leap that’s why…😭 Pakka next chp will be interesting.

How are you guys? I hope you all are doing well I hope sabka result accha aaya hoga….and even if it didn’t go well, no stress! You know you gave your best, and your hard work will definitely pay off somewhere. So don’t overthink too much.

Baki sab acche se vote aur comments karna, thoda motivation do mujhe….Mera writing ka flow tut gaya hai, I seriously need motivation to get back into that flow again 🥲😭

I am waiting for your comments 💗

Enjoy Reading ❤️

Stay tuned for further updates…!!!

Bye Cutiepies….!!!🍁

[text_hash] => 3756dbf8
)