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“I missed you, Ruh,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her from behind.
Her back rested against my chest, and slowly…she relaxed. She leaned into me, gently placing her hands over mine as they circled her waist.
God, how much I missed this.
Missed her.
I closed my eyes and breathed her in-her scent, the warmth of her. I held her tighter, as if she will slip away again if I let go.
I kissed the side of her neck softly, murmuring, “Ruh…”
She sighed. That soft, little breath hit differently-it felt like home. I gently traced circles on her waist to calm her. Just holding her like this made everything feel right again.
But of course….the peace didn’t last.
Suddenly, she pulled away and turned to face me. Her fingers grabbed my collar, and before I could react, she exploded-
“You nasty, stupid, idiotic chimpanzee! How dare you scare me like that? I was about to peel your skin off with a scalpel. Were you planning to get murdered and land me in jail?” She said it all in one breath.
Honestly, I missed half of it because-well, her eyes were kinda glowing and her lips were moving-she is looking HOT.
But my mind gets stuck on the word scalpel.
Oh. I remember
She is mad at me.
And, yeah…..who is at fault?
Of course it’s me.
“Bloody stupid Vihaan Chimpanzee Raichand!” she shouted and pushed me back.
And then….she started throwing files at me.
I somehow managed to dodge them all like a pro-impressive, I know-but then she picked up the BP machine.
Is she going to hit me with that.
“Ruh…!!! Are you actually going to hit me with that?” I shouted as i started imagining how much damage it can create to me.
“My handsome face will be ruined,” I tried to reason as I dodged again.
She paused, considered it…
and thank God, put it down.
See, she loves me.
But wait-this time, she grabbed the standing steel rod, the one used to hang glucose bottles.
Is she seriously trying to hit me with that?
Before she could try anything else, I rushed forward and grabbed her wrists.
“Enough now,” I held her hands behind her. She tried to wiggle out with one hand, but I caught that too.
Now her hands were pinned, and she was just inches away.
Very. Close.
Our eyes met. Her hazel brown eyes burned with fire, and God…I loved it.
She stepped back, and I followed-until her back hit the wall.
I smirked.
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink.
“Feeling hot, doctor?” I teased as my knuckles slowly caressed her cheeks.
She coughed and rolled her eyes, “It’s because of the weather change.”
“Funny how the ‘weather change’ kicks in when I am standing so close to you, doctor” I leaned closer, brushing my lips against her ear.
She glared at me, but didn’t move away.
I leaned into her neck, letting my breath tickle her skin.
“I really missed you,” I whispered.
I placed a kiss there. She didn’t pull away-in fact, she tilted her head slightly, giving me more access.
I smiled.
My arms tightened around her as I kissed her neck again, softer this time. When she finally tried to step back, I wrapped her in a hug again.
“Just let me hold you like this,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “It’s been years. After this, you can hit me all you want.”
She froze… and then, slowly…she melted into my arms. Hugging me back. Her fingers clutched my shirt, and I ran my hand gently through her hair.
She pulled back slightly and looked at me.
“What happened, Ruh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, as I tuck her hair behind her ear.
She looked embarrassed.
“I have been working all night and day without a break….and I haven’t even showered. I probably smell like medicines.”
I softly chuckled and hugged her tighter, “You smell like hard work. And I am proud of you.”
She looked up at me again, those hazel eyes shining. I leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips-right where a tiny mole rested.
Then I kissed her forehead gently. Her breath hitched, and I felt her arms wrap around me again.
We stayed like that for a long while.
Until I felt her shoulders shake.
I pulled back, worried.
“Ruh? Why are you crying?” I asked, wiping her cheeks.
She tried to talk but choked on her words.
“I just got a little emotional,” she whispered.
I helped her sit on the edge of the patient bed and sat beside her, still holding her hand.
“I came to meet you after years, and you are crying?” I teased gently, trying to lighten the moment.
She sniffled and glared at me through her tears, “It’s your fault”
“I am sorry Ruh,” I whispered as i kissed her temple.
“When did you come back? Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, wiping her own tears now.
“I wanted to surprise you,” I smiled.
“Thought you would scream. Instead, you almost murdered me,” i teased her.
She snorted, “Perks of watching too many crime thrillers. I feel more excited than scared.”
I shook my head as a soft chuckle escaped from my mouth.
I pulled out a small bouquet of white orchids and handed them to her.
She smiled as she took them and inhaled the fragrance.
“Thanks.”
Then she narrowed her eyes, “Wait… how did you even get in here? This room is always locked.”
I grinned and pulled her close again. She gasped and held my shoulders to steady herself.
“Perks of having a brother-in-law who partly runs this hospital,” I said with a smirk.
“He let you in?” she asked, shocked.
“Hoooowwwww?” She asked exaggerating her tone.
“Just Vihaan Raichand’s secret,” I whispered dramatically.
‘Yeah. This guy practically begged his brother in law to meet his Ruh….I am the witness guys…you all can trust me,’ my brain jumped in ruining all my aura.
Stupid brain.
“Don’t forget,” she poked my chest, “I am still angry with you.”
She picked up her stethoscope and walked away.
I sighed, “But I came back. Doesn’t that count for something?”
No answer.
“Okay, fine. At least let me drop you home?” I offered.
She didn’t say anything but gave a small nod.
I caught the tiny smile she tried to hide, and my heart did a flip.
She is not really mad. Just pretending. Cute.
I tried to hold her hand again, but she glared.
Right. We were still inside the hospital. She didn’t like PDA here.
Later, in the car, she sat beside me while I drove.
And I kept talking. About everything. My projects, my game-how it failed at first and then started doing well. She listened, even if she didn’t understand much.
But that’s Ruh.
Even in silence, she listens with her heart.
As soon as I dropped her at her place, I quickly got out of the car and opened the door for her like a gentleman. Honestly, all I wanted in that moment was to pull her into my arms and hug her so tightly that time would pause.
“Are you still angry with me?” I leaned closer, whispering right against her lips.
I swear, they were too tempting. Like, seriously-does she even know how dangerously her lips are inviting me to savour them?
One more second and I’d forget all morals and just lean in like a man starved.
Calm down Vihaan.
Control yourself.
She is angry with you.
She pulled back, raised an eyebrow and smirked, “Depends….how you are planning to ask for my forgiveness.”
Then she winked. WINKED. I swear, that wink could start a cyclone in my heart…i mean it already started.
I knew it. She couldn’t stay mad at me for long.
But yeah, I had messed up. I needed to work hard to make up for it.
“Atharv would have slept by now, right?” I asked casually.
She glanced at her watch and gave a soft nod.
“If you want…” she began, but I quickly stepped back.
“No, it’s okay. I will come meet him and prisha di in the morning,” I didn’t want to trouble anyone this late.
She smiled, “Good Night, Mr. Raichand.”
Her voice lingered in my mind.
And just like that, she turned and walked away, leaving me there grinning like an idiot as she closed the door behind her.
I sighed and headed back to my own house. I rang the doorbell.
Technically, no one knew I was back yet. I had landed quietly, asked Kunal bhai about her schedule, and specifically told him not to tell anyone.
I looked around. Everything looked… the same. But somehow, not.
I rang the bell again.
“Aa rahi hoon, Atharv!” I heard Mom’s voice from inside.
My heart did a little somersault because of excitement.
She opened the door, and her eyes went wide in pure shock.
Before she could say a word, I jumped forward and hugged her tight. She stood still for a second before finally hugging me back.
“Vihaan! When did you come?! And why didn’t you tell me? I would have come to receive you! Wait-” she began her full dramatic mom-mode.
But before she could finish her Viva, Dad’s voice interrupted from behind.
He smiled, and I rushed to hug him too. He patted my back like always-calm, composed, typical Dad style.
And then…! Mom twisted my ear.
“Vihaan Raichand….Did you grow up so much that you now decide to fly back home without even informing your mother?” she snapped.
I winced dramatically, “Are you not happy that your most handsome, most charming, most favorite son is finally back?”
She gave me a look. The look. The one that says ‘I gave birth to you, don’t try me.’
Still, she sighed and walked inside. I followed her like a puppy.
“Yeah yeah, I know. And that son will stay for three-four days, then….gone again,” she said under her breath, her voice cracking a little.
I swear these women in my life-Mom and Ruh….are experts at crying. They both can cry even at happiest things.
I looked at Dad, silently asking for help. He shrugged giving me a look that spoke, ‘handle it by your own.’
So I did the next best thing-I back-hugged her.
“Mom, can we please skip the crying part and be happy and most importantly to jump to food? Your son is starving. Also, I didn’t even get time to rest after landing, it’s been a few hours.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, “And where exactly were you, mister, if you didn’t come at home?”
Dad narrowed his eyes giving me a look.
Crap.
I didn’t have to speak about this.
“Umm… I… I was…” i stuttered trying to think about an excuse.
Stupid Brain. Wake Up.
‘what should I do this is such a critical moment,’ my brain stupid yet intelligent gave me a worst possible answer.
“Forget it!” Mom rolled her eyes.
“No need to make up stories. We know where you went,” she continued as a teasing smirk plastered on her face.
“I scratched the back of my head, looking down, completely embarrassed, knowing she already knew where I went.
“Where did he go?” Dad asked, still curious, his eyes filled with questions.
“To a doctor,” Mom replied casually.
And that was it-I couldn’t stop blushing.
Dad looked at me, confused, but thankfully, half his attention was still on the news, so he didn’t ask more.
“Go take a shower. Then have dinner,” she said.
But me, being me, had to make things harder.
No way! Is she really going to cook?
“Mom, you have already had a long day with school and house chores. Why not let Dad cook tonight?” I suggested with my sweetest smile.
She shot me a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
“I am not a bad cook,” she said.
Dad and I looked at each other-tge look which screams-only we knows how the good cook my mother is.
“Huh, joke of the century,” Dad laughed under his breath.
Mom turned to him slowly.
“Kya bola aapne?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Dad gulped, “Arey, I was talking about the news anchor’s statement… not you, Adhya ji.”
“Fine. I will just make dessert. Your Dad will cook dinner,” she huffed and walked off, leaving Dad sighing as he trudged toward the kitchen.
I grinned and hugged Mom again.
Then I turned to Dad, “Please make something light. No spice.”
He looked at me like I had asked him for his property.
“Anything else, Your Highness?” he asked, deadpan.
I zipped my lips immediately, “Nope. Thank you!”
I finally escaped to my room.
As soon as I opened the door of my room……..peace.
“I am so tired, I swear,” I muttered, collapsing face-first onto my bed.
My room? Still the same. Familiar warmth.
Books in crooked piles, video games, the controller lying there in correct place.
Mom did it.
I smiled.
Nothing is changed.
I turned my face into a pillow.
And then my eyes caught the scrapbook-tucked neatly on the shelf, not a speck of dust on it. I had even sprayed her perfume on it, just to hold on to her scent.
I still remember how weird the name was, but I memorized it anyway and bought a bottle-just to spray on my clothes, just to feel like she is close to me.
I opened it and her handwriting-sharp, neat, perfect….just like her…..just like My Ruh.
I pulled it closer, reading it again and again.
I swear, I have memorized every word. But each time it feels new. Like she is speaking straight to me through ink.
She is still little angry on me. I could tell.
After graduation, life pulled me into a storm of emotions. I wrapped up my internship and was all set to return, to come back here. But then it came-the dream project. A full game series. Design, development, execution-everything from scratch. And it was all on me.
It wasn’t just a job. It was a dream of mine since childhood.
I told Ruh it would take four months, maybe six at most. She nodded, smiled, and believed in me. Like she always did.
But six months blurred into a year… and then more. And somewhere in that time, I started slipping away from her without even realizing it.
Not because I stopped caring. But because I kept waiting for the right moment.
One more update. One more deadline. One more late night. I kept thinking, ‘Let me just finish this part, then I’ll call her properly.’ But that moment never came.
And Ruh?
She never complained. Not once did she ask when I was coming back. She didn’t question the delays. She never blamed me or made me feel guilty. She just….waited. Silently.
Her patience? It wasn’t loud. It didn’t come with tears or anger. It came with quiet strength. The kind that breaks you more than any fight ever could.
Her texts were always soft. Her voice, always calm.
“Did you eat?”
“Are you sleeping okay?”
“Is your health alright?”
She never once said she missed me. But I knew she did. I could feel it in the spaces between her words.
And maybe that’s what hurt the most….that she never asked for much, but I still ended up giving her too little.
Our conversations slowly started changing. From long talks full of laughter and feelings, they turned into short. No deep talks. No real sharing.
We weren’t talking like we used to. We stopped telling each other about our days, our thoughts, our worries, our little happy moments.
And slowly…..the silence between us grew.
It wasn’t the kind of silence you notice right away. It was quiet, slow, but heavy. Like a wall building up-brick by brick-with every call we didn’t make, every word we didn’t say.
And one day, that silence felt bigger than the distance between us.
We were still together… but not really connected anymore.
Then one day, she told me she wanted to stay away from home-for a while. Things weren’t easy between her and dad. And just like that, she left for her rural hospital posting after final year. Said she wanted to give back, to help people. I told her I was proud and always be with her.
And that’s how the wall got higher-built out of all the words we never said.
Now I am back. And when I saw her again-when I hugged her-it felt like she had been holding herself together for years in that one second. Like every crack she hid had surfaced in my arms.
And that’s what stings the most.
She never asked for anything.
But I still ended up hurting her.
And now I know-I didn’t lie. But I did neglect her. And even if I didn’t mean to, it still matters.
This time, I don’t want to build dreams alone.
I want her in every little piece of them.
I don’t want to fix this with one big apology and then move on like nothing happened. No. I want to fix it little by little-with actions, with words I should have said before, with time that I should have given her.
I want us to be together.
Not just in photos or memories or once-in-a-while phone calls.
Together in small, real ways.
Like drinking chai in the balcony on lazy evenings-even though I don’t like chai that much.
Like watching a stupid movie and arguing over which character is right.
Like walking home after grocery shopping and laughing at nothing.
I want to be the one she calls when her day’s been too much. The one she waits for at the door. The one who listens-even when she says she’s fine but her eyes say otherwise.
I want her to talk. And this time, I will listen to her.
I want to be there when she is tired after her shift, when she is excited, when she is just quiet.
I want to learn her all over again-the way she scrunches her nose when she is annoyed, the way she ties her hair in a bun when she is focused, the way she avoids eye contact when she is hiding something on her mind.
I missed all of it.
But I don’t want to just regret it.
I want to rebuild.
Not by rushing. But by holding her hand and saying, “I am here now. Fully. For real. For Forever.”
I want to fall asleep next to her without worrying about deadlines. I want to wake up knowing she is still here-and that she knows I won’t leave again.
Because this time, I don’t want to go ahead alone and look back later.
I want to walk with her.
Step by step.
Together.
In every small way that matters.
Vihaan Raichand, it’s time to fix that gap between me and Ruh.
I dragged myself to the bathroom and took a long, scalding shower-the kind that feels like you are washing off guilt.
Ruffled my hair dry, flopped on the bed, stared at the wet towel….and sighed.
As i remember Ruh doesn’t like it if things were thrown here and there.
I picked it up, opened the balcony door to hang it…
And there it was.
The White Orchids.
Still blooming.
Still here.
I crouched to smell it, smiling despite myself.
“She really made me fall for flowers,” I whispered as a smile appeared on my face.
I glanced at her balcony.
Closed.
She is probably asleep. Night shifts back-to-back. She looked tired today. Still beautiful.
“I just want to hold her,” I murmured.
I leaned on the railing, and let the cold breeze slap some sense into me.
Her eyes met mine-and for a moment, the world slowed down.
We didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Just looked.
And in that look…..So much passed between us.
Her eyes held softness-like they’d been waiting, but never pressuring.
Like they’d whispered my name in prayers I never heard.
There was no blame in them.
Just the quiet relief of a heart that finally had its missing piece back.
And mine-
I don’t even know what mine showed. Maybe guilt. Maybe longing. Maybe just the ache of every moment I had lost without her.
But she understood. God, she always did. Even without words, she read me like she always could.
We stood there, two people divided by balconies and time.
But bound by something stronger-A thousand unspoken emotions.
And one steady look that said everything that mattered.
And for the first time in a long, long while-
It felt like we were home.
“Vihu!”
Mom’s voice snapped me out of my poetry trance just as Ruh quietly stepped back into her room, gently closing the door behind her-but not before giving me a look.
A small signal. Go inside, idiot, her eyes teased.
And then-
“Vihaan!”
Yeah. That was my mom. Loud enough to wake half the neighbourhood.
I winced, ducked my head, and slipped back into my room like a burglar caught red-handed.
“Are you crazy? I have been calling you for ten minutes!” She scolded me.
“Coming!” I yelled, startled.
She reached the door, spotted my starry-eyed self, and raised an eyebrow.
“Nalayak, have dinner. You can admire our neighbor’s daughter later.”
“Mom!” I whined.
Ears red. Heart stupidly full.
Why did she always tease me?
Dinner was a blur of warmth.
Dad arguing with the news.
Mom piling food on my plate.
One person is missing-Prisha Di.
I won’t tell her but i really missed my sister.
Grumpy robot-I mean Jiju said she wasn’t feeling well.
I will visit them tomorrow.
As much as I wanted to rush back, climb over that silly balcony wall, wrap her in my arms and hold her like I was never letting go-I knew I couldn’t.
Not right now.
She had just smiled at me. That soft, content smile. She was okay. And I didn’t want to ruin that peace with the weight of everything I still had to say.
She needs rest.
And I…I needed to gather the right words.
So I stayed in my room, letting the quiet sink in.
Even though my heart and soul both were on the other side of that balcony.
β’β’β’β’β’
It was Saturday.
And that meant – I couldn’t resist anymore.
I missed my Di, her taunts, her hugs, her dramatic moods, and of course….her little tornado, my adorable nephew Atharv.
So, after having my breakfast, I packed a big box of toys I had bought for Atharv-from racing cars to dinosaur plushies.
And for Prisha Di, I carried a batch of her favorite muffins. Yes, I baked them. Me. Vihaan Raichand, game developer, and occasional baker.
I just hoped she liked them. Kunal jiju had warned me-her taste buds were on a rollercoaster ride these days. Her mood swings are on a crazy level, he said.
Anyway, with all this in hand, I walked up to their house and rang the bell.
The door creaked open….and there he stood-the Great Grumpy Man himself. Kunal Bhaiya.
Hair all messy, yawning, looking tired.
“Tch tch, my day is going to be terrible after seeing your face,” I muttered under my breath.
“Same here,” he replied instantly, rolling his eyes.
He stepped inside and suddenly limped, grabbing the couch for support, trying not to laugh at himself-like his back had just given up halfway through walking.
As soon as he sat down, his back made a crack-crack sound-like someone stepped on a packet of chips.
“Kunal jiiijuu, you good? Should I call a doctor or just order a walking stick from Amazon?” I muttered in a serious yet teasing tone.
He shot me that look. The deadly one. The ‘Say one more word and I’ll bury you under the sofa’ kind of look.
“Shut up,” he grunted.
I like to annoy both this brother and sister duo. They both scrunch their nose when they feel annoyed.
I couldn’t help grinning as i replied in a teasing time, “But seriously kunal jiju….you are 35 years old…senior citizen. Be careful, even sneezing it might hurt your back.”
He raised an eyebrow with an all grumpy robot face, “I can still throw you out the window.”
“Only if your knees don’t go on a strike midway,” I muttered, trying not to laugh.
His muscles were still there, sure… but his biceps were already warning me: ‘If he fights you, you will end up in pieces.’
He smirked, “Don’t worry. Being 35 just means I have more experience…..with a scalpel. And I don’t always use anesthesia.”
I stood up straight.
Suddenly very respectfully.
Keyword: respectfully.
I don’t know why I am always scared of him. But, I like irritating him more than anything.
He pointed toward the room, “Prisha is inside. Go. Before I really put you on the operation table.”
With a fake confident salute-because no way I was letting him know I was actually scared-I marched off toward Di’s room like i don’t get scared of his words.
Inside, Di was lying on the bed, reading a book and looking exhausted. But the moment she saw me, she sat up, eyes wide with surprise.
“Di” I called, and she instantly dropped her book and opened her arms.
We hugged-her tightly, me gently, keeping in mind her little baby bump not trying to hurt the little one.
And then, just like that, she started crying.
“I missed you, Vihu.”
“I missed you too, don’t cry, di,” I said, rubbing her back.
My sister really loves me. That she started crying just meeting me.
My sister is the best.
Aww I missed her too.
“I am not crying,” she said in a teary voice.
“Tell me did you bring that makeup product I asked for?” she sniffled, rubbing her nose on the edge of my shirt.
I blinked. Excuse me?
Wasn’t she just crying because she missed me.
I am taking my words back.
“I did,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Even after that dramatic performance i thought you really missed your brother, but no, my sister is thinking about highlighters and lip tints.”
Her face lit up instantly.
“You are the best brother!” She beams with happiness and ruffled my hair like I was a toddler.
“Di! Don’t touch hair, i don’t like it,” I yelped, fixing it back.
She chuckled and started telling me how she was feeling lately- tired, dizzy, moody. All classic signs. But seeing her like this made my heart twist a little. She looked weaker, paler.
I just pray she and the baby stay safe. I can’t see her like this.
Kunal bhai told me she is getting weaker day by day. He is doing everything-managing her diet, making sure she exercises-but her health still isn’t improving.
I hugged her gently. She gave me a tired smile, and for a moment, it felt like old times. Just the two of us, sharing a quiet sibling moment-no words, just love.
Just then, Kunal bhai entered, carrying a tray with food.
“Eat,” he said sternly.
“I am not hungry,” she pouted.
“I didn’t ask,” he replied and began feeding her anyway.
I swear, he has got that mix of grumpy robot and soft husband.
I watched them, quietly smiling. Love can look weird sometimes-like feeding your stubborn pregnant wife while she argues between bites.
And then…
“Mamuuuu” A tiny voice screamed as a mini missile named Atharv launched himself into my arms.
He wrapped his arms around me, legs too, basically becoming a clingy little koala.
I exclaimed, hugging him tight, “hey, little tornado.”
“why didn’t you tell me you are coming back? That’s bad, Mamu!” he whined in his babyish voice, mixing up words in the cutest way.
“Sorry, my tornado. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Now play with me….or did you bring toys for me,” he ordered, dragging me toward his room.
Like mother like son.
“You started ordering me as soon as I met you, hnn?” I asked as I walked with him to his room.
“I am the boss. You are the mamu,” he stated proudly.
“Yes, sir.”
We played for hours-built towers, destroyed them, had a dinosaur battle, and read a superhero comic twice and I taught him how to play video games.
Uncle and aunty had already left for the hospital before I came. Kunal bhai left too after giving me instructions again to not feed Di anything spicy or cold.
So now, Di and Atharv would stay at our house for a few hours.
β’β’β’β’β’
It was evening, and the sky outside had started turning a soft shade of orange. I leaned back on the couch and decided to call Yash and Siddharth on a conference call. But obviously, luck isn’t my best friend these days. Neither of them is in Delhi right now. So here I am… missing them.
Just as I was about to get ready to meet Ruh, I heard Prisha di’s voice echoing from her room, “Vihaan?’
“Ji?” I turned my head, half-expecting her to say something weird.
“Are you going somewhere?”
I nodded, “Yes, I am going out for a while. Why?”
“Can you take Atharv with you?” she asked, rubbing her forehead.
Honestly, being a mom does look like a full-time battlefield job.
I frowned, “Why? What happened?”
She sighed, and I could see the exhaustion on her face, “I promised him we would go to the park today. But now I have this freaking stupid headache and I really don’t feel like going out. He will be so upset if I break my promise….Please?”
I looked at her and nodded, “Of course. Don’t worry, I will take him. You just take a rest, and if something happens call me”
I stepped closer and gently touched her forehead, trying to check if she was having a fever. But she felt fine. Still, something was off. Her face looked pale. Maybe it’s stress.
“Let me know if you feel worse. We’ll go to the hospital, okay?” I said softly and leaned in to kiss her temple.
She gave me a weak smile and said “thanks and sorry for dumping my hyper child on you”
I chuckled softly, caressing her hair as I helped her get back to her room. Mom was already there, so I stayed until she fell asleep.
Kunal bhai literally messages her every hour. Every. Single. Hour. This guy, seriously. But i smiled because he cared for her.
Then I walked toward the main door of the house.
And then he arrived. The tiny tornado of chaos.
“MAMUUU!” Atharv yelled, running into the room like an excited puppy who just spotted a treat.
Before I could even respond, he jumped onto me, wrapping himself around me like a baby koala. I swear, I could barely breathe.
“Where are we going? Are you gonna buy me chocolate? Or are we going to an amusement park? Or…” He fired questions faster than a machine gun.
I somehow managed to catch my breath and replied, “We are going to meet someone special…”
He blinked, “Who?”
I smiled, picked him up, and whispered, “To meet your Mami.”
He frowned, his little eyebrows knitting together.
His tiny brain was clearly buffering, “Mami? Who? Do I know her? Does she know me? Does she like chocolate? Is she pretty? Will she like me?”
This little tornado was throwing questions faster than my brain could keep up.
I tried not to laugh, “Hold on little detective. First of all….yes, she knows you. And yes, she is pretty. Actually, not just pretty….she is so gorgeous.”
He blinked at me, impressed. “Really?”
I nodded.
He paused, clearly imagining her in his head.
“And she definitely loves chocolate and definitely loves you so much.” I told him, and his face lit up with a big smile as i kissed his forehead.
Chocolate is his weakness and hers too.
His eyes sparkled as he remembered something.
“Ruhii bua also loves chocolates. She once sneaked into the kitchen at midnight and ate a whole pastry. And it was mine,” he said, folding his arms and pouting.
“But then she took me to the mall and bought me two pastries, so I forgave her,” He added with that one toothless smile.
I smiled, knowing exactly how Ruh’s cravings of chocolates works late at night.
“See? she loves you so much. Next time, if she steals your pastry again, let her. You will let your bua eat. I will bake lots of cake, muffins, brownies and pastries for you. And your bua too.”
He gasped like I had promised him a chocolate castle, “Deal. Me and bua will start a bakery shop….”
I laughed at his serious little face.
“But I want chocolate lava cake too.” he added like a boss.
I nodded.
“Done,” I said, ruffling his messy hair.
He gave me a sly grin, like he had just won a secret deal.
He might look calm and sweet-but trust me, this kid is a full-time mischief machine with a baby face and unlimited energy.
I buckled him into the car seat and handed him his favorite toy.
We reached the hospital, and I made my way toward the reception desk to confirm if Ruh’s shift had ended.
It had.
Perfect timing.
“Mamu, why are we at the hospital? I thought we were going to meet my mami?” Atharv asked, blinking those big innocent eyes.
“We are,” I said, heading to the top floor where she usually hangs out when she wants peace.
And then….the universe played its usual trick.
Just as I turned a corner, I walked straight into Ruh’s father.
Great. Just what I needed.
“Vihaan?” he looked at me, eyebrows raised, partly surprised by seeing me.
I swear my soul left my body for a second.
“Hello, uncle,” I said, unable to meet his eyes.
The last time we met each other… And after our last conversation, things were left hanging. Maybe he won’t like my presence.
He ruffled Atharv’s hair like nothing had happened, then looked at me briefly, “When did you come back?”
“Last night,” I mumbled, unsure if he was asking out of concern or obligation.
He wouldn’t be okay with me meeting her. After everything.
“She is probably in the resting room, at the end of the corridor,” he said, calm as ever, before turning and walking away.
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
Wait.
What?
He actually….agreed? Just like that?
My mind wandered back to the last time we spoke. I couldn’t recall every word, but I remembered the look in his eyes-sharp, unreadable. And the silence that followed…unsettling.
What did I even say to him back then? Maybe it’s better I don’t remember. Or maybe I do-but I’m not ready to face it yet.
“Let’s go, Mamu!” Atharv chirped, tugging at my hand, unknowingly pulling me out of my thoughts.
As we turned a corner, Atharv accidentally bumped into a senior doctor, who instantly turned into the Hulk.
“Are you blind, kid?” he barked.
“Sorry, doctor,” Atharv replied politely, stepping back.
I stepped forward, “He’s just a kid. I apologize- it won’t happen again.”
The doctor glared at him like atharv was a germ on his stethoscope.
“I hate kids” he muttered under his breath as he passed beside me.
Woah! What was that?
Finally, we reached the room.
There she was.
Ruh.
Eyes closed, head tilted back against the chair. She looked peaceful….until this little tornado jumped into her lap.
“Bua,” Atharv squealed.
She blinked and looked down, alarmed, “Atharv? You are here? Are you okay? Do you have pain anywhere?”
“Yesss….Mamu said we are going to meet ma-“
I clamped my hand over his mouth and whispered in his ear, “Shhh. It’s our secret, remember?”
He nodded like an obedient kid.
“What are you both talking so secretly?” Ruh looked suspiciously between us.
“I wasn’t feeling well, so I thought… maybe I should come here, doctor,” I said casually.
She rolled her eyes, “Vihaan, you never feel sick. You just make people sick.”
Ouch! That hurts.
The way she said it-chin high, eyes having fire-damn….!
I just wanted to slam her against the nearest wall and kiss the hell out of her.
But no.
Control, idiot.
One wrong move and she’d probably break my nose, stitch it up herself, and still charge me her fees also.
“I am serious, doctor. Headache. Nausea. Chest tightness. Sudden fatigue. Vision is kinda blurry. Might be a heart attack. Or dengue. Or maybe kidney failure or maybe……” I muttered dramatically, slumping into the chair like I was auditioning for a medical drama.
I hope I said all possible symptoms.
She gave me a deadpan stare, “Anything else? A cough? you are seeing blurry lights, forgot your name. Knee pain. Elbow pain. or You are the pain….wait…..Should I give you a candy telling you that you will be okay or do you want me to call NASA in case it’s an alien virus?”
I added more fuel, “Also, I sneezed twice this morning. “
She rolled her eyes so hard they almost traveled to the back of her skull, “Well, in that case, you clearly have a rare and deadly condition…..called being an XY chromosome.”
I stopped as i blinked after hearing her answer.
She is looking hot.
Control Vihaan.
Focus.
“You can go to another doctor then my shift ended” she said, already standing up.
No way!
“I might faint, doctor,” I exaggerated, flopping on the patient bed.
“Bua, Mamu is not well. Check him,” Atharv pleaded, pulling her white coat.
And i smiled looking at my tornado. My nephew is just like me. Smart. Intelligent. And. Handsome.
She sighed, clearly tired of my drama, but still she nodded.
“Fine.”
She placed the stethoscope on my chest, “Breathe.”
I did.
She ran her fingers across my neck, and my heart started beating crazy fast. I am sure even the ECG machine would have shown a big jump.
“What do you feel right now?” she asked softly.
I stared at her beautiful eyes, the tiny mole on her lips, and every single thing about her screamed dangerously irresistible.
“I am suffering from a broken heart. My Ruh isn’t talking to me-looks like I have got a serious case of ‘Ruh deficiency.’ Doctor, can you please prescribe me 2 doses of Ruh in the morning, 1 tight hug at night, and unlimited smiles as needed and lots of kisses.”
“Side effects may include excessive blushing, spontaneous smiling, sudden urge to hold her forever, and mild heart attacks every time she looks at me like that. Totally worth the risk, right doctor?”
I said as I slipped my hand around her waist, I felt her breath hitch slightly, like the world had just narrowed down to this small, perfect moment between us.
She tried not to smile. Almost failed.
But then….she smirks and I am telling you her smirk turned dangerous.
She leaned in, grazing her lips near my jaw and whispered, “Oh, I can treat you alright.”
Before I could even react, she turned, grabbed gloves, and-wait.
WHY IS SHE HOLDING AN INJECTION?
Freaking….Injection…!!
I sat up straight, “Ruh….What are doing?”
“Just a little treatment for your ‘Ruh deficiency’, Mr. Raichand,” she said sweetly, flicking the needle.
I grabbed atharv’s hand.
“Mamu, don’t be scared. Bua is a good doctor,”he said, his eyes worried but full of trust in her bua.
He is so adorable. Little tornado.
“Mamu are you scared of injection?,” he asked as he teased me.
“Me….no way!” I replied as i opened my shirt buttons to breathe, trying to stay calm.
But the moment that needle gleamed in the light…
“Are you ready, Mr. Raichand?” Ruh said, her tone was mischievous.
“Yes,” I said, trying to sound brave, but my legs felt like they weighed a ton.
I swallowed hard.
She smirked as she held my hand, as she rubbed and pressed the cotton. I stared at the needle, but my brain stopped working. My eyelids grew heavy as I kept looking at it.
THUD.
Everything went black.
————————————
Finally Chapter 60…!!!
So how was the chapter???
Vihaan is suffering from Ruh deficiency….π
Vihaan ka behosh hone se gehra rishta hai πππ€π»
Your favourite scene???π
First of all… I’m really sorry for the late update. I got tangled up with this chapter…..like, the way I wanted to write it just didn’t come out right, so I rewrote it again. Then I got caught up with some work, so I had to start over with this chapter. Sorry for the delay…..I hope you liked it.π€§πππ»
Ahnnn so Vihaan and his Ruh were together all year long…..
And what do you think about the conversation between Vihaan and Ruh’s father…..wait for further chapters you will get to know π«
I am waiting for your votes and lots of comments πβ¨
Enjoy Reading β€οΈ
Stay tuned for further updates….!!!
Bye Cutiepies…!!!π
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