*Vani Pov*“Are you fine?” Rupa asked the moment I stepped out of the ICU after my parents.“Yeah! Why don’t you come in and meet my Aunty?” I asked her trying to smile before dragging her inside.“Aunty! Meet my friend.” I said, ignoring everyone and sat on the stool.“I am Rupa, Aunty.” She said calmly after hesitating a bit.“The Rupa!” Aunty asked slowly smiling.“I guess!” Rupa mumbled scratching her neck.“You made this poor girl walk home from college, so many times, dear.” Aunty said in a stern voice.“Oh! I didn’t mean it like that. It was just…” Rupa stopped herself when she saw Aunty smiling.“You were staying with her?” Aunty asked me with a frown.“Yes! We became great friends.” I replied, smiling at her.“My parents even started loving her more than me.” Rupa added, making me shake my head.“She knows how to make everyone love her. Do you know that we wished she was our daughter when she stayed at my house for the first time?” Aunty said holding my hand.“I can see that.
*Vani Pov*“Take care.” I heard someone saying and glanced up from the tray of water glasses to see yet another person from the village leaving the house as the body was taken for burial.“Vani! Sit down for a second. You are not taking a rest from morning.” I heard Mom’s voice.“Mo…m, she is not coming back right?” I asked still staring at the door.“Shh!” she mumbled hugging me and I closed my eyes still not wanting to accept the truth.“Listen to me, Vani. What I am asking you is really a hard thing, but it is needed.” She suddenly said and I frowned at her.“Your husband needs you now more than anything, Vani. He already lost his father and now her. We were lucky to spend so much time with her unlike him who was living in a city.” She slowly explained and I stilled.“He needs you now more than anything and I hope you will be there for him. Look at all of us, we are crying non-stop trying to reduce the pain, but it is not that easy for the men.” She added seeing my stiffness.“I kn
*Kamal Pov*“I am fine.” I mumbled for the millionth time wishing I can hide somewhere from everyone’s caring words.My friends were wrong thinking we will be free from such words from the people after leaving the village. The place is changed, but not the people.At least the villagers knew my mom, but not the people who are around me at present. God! When did I become so bitter? I thought and then remembered my snapping comment to Vani.What had she even done? I thought, shaking my head and started looking at the appointments for today before reaching near the patients following my resident.I did as much as I can do throwing myself into the work and trying to take anyone’s task to just fill the time until my friends literally threw me out asking me to go home.So, I reached the house late and then remembered about Vani seeing her sitting on the sofa.“Dinner?” she asked, glancing at me.“I will freshen up!” I replied, to which she nodded before getting up and walked towards the kit
*Kamal Pov*I sat there stiffly for a few seconds after feeling the arms around me and then turned around only to crush her to me before releasing the tears which I couldn’t stop anymore.“I miss her so much, Vani. I kept on thinking she will walk inside the house any moment, but I know that it will never happen.” I said closing my eyes tightly.“I… I am feeling guilty thinking maybe I should have stayed near to her without staying away. I missed so much time and always thought she would be with me forever after I get settled down.” I added shaking my head.“It is not a wrong thing to miss her. I miss her too and will miss her forever. However, she would kill both of us if we made sure we are sad and are trying to get stuck in a moment.” I heard her voice making me slowly control the tears.“I do not know how you are feeling at this moment and maybe no one will ever know. It is not an easy thing to get on with the life.” She mumbled and slowly moved a little to glance at my face.“Do
*Vani Pov*When Kamal suddenly groaned, we all glanced up from our food to see him, frowning at the dishes with a serious thought.“Is something missing?” I asked the others, but not him.“Are you kidding? There are so many items and I think I should have to exercise more tomorrow because I don’t want to miss eating any one of it.” Girish said shaking his head.I gave him a small smile before glancing at my plate while everyone started to serve themselves and to my luck that girl is sitting beside him.“This is so delicious.” Rakesh said, smiling at me.“Are you forgetting something, David?” Kamal asked and I frowned at them only to see David is looking everywhere except to my side.“No!” he replied simply and they continued to have their lunch.“Do you like living in the city, Vani?” Pallavi suddenly asked when everyone stayed silent.“Yeah!” I replied, not even looking up to stare at her.I know what she is trying to tell because I am not really liking to stay in the house with not
*Vani Pov*“Damn! I am getting late.” I mumbled to myself rushing out of the washroom only to scream looking at the person near the door.“What are you doing here? I thought you left a few hours ago.” I mumbled before stepping outside near to the mirror.“There was a special emergency case so I had to leave early.” He mumbled in a whisper, making me frown and I turned around to see him staring at me but not only my face.I glanced down to see that I am not wearing a Saree and just holding it in my hands. I gulped, but looked away, feeling shy and also feeling a blush ready to cover my face.“I will go outside.” He mumbled and walked away, making me get a reality flashed.It will not matter to him even if I stand with even less clothes than this. What am I in front of his girlfriend?You are just stupid, Vani! I thought, and started getting ready before taking a deep breath.I walked outside to see him reading a paper and I calmly packed the lunch, which he hasn’t taken while leaving e
*Vani Pov*“Guys, why don’t we have our dinner too?” I heard Pallavi asking and glanced up to see her looking at everyone.“I don’t think it is a good idea.” Kamal said and everyone frowned at him.“Why? Your wife is also here and I am sure she would love this holiday of cooking.” Girish said frowning at him.“Say that you like this idea.” He added, staring at me with a glare.“Are you asking me or ordering me?” I asked, leaning back feeling comfortable with this conversation with him.“Take it as anything but that should make you stay.” He replied shrugging.“Now, how can I reject you?” I asked, smiling and everyone laughed, making me remember the other people around us.I glanced up to see Kamal frowning at me making me frown back. Why is he looking at me like that like I did something wrong?Is he mad that I am making his friends as mine? Does he want me to stay away? What else can be the reason for him irritated look?“It is going to be my treat by the way to celebrate Vani’s job.
*Kamal Pov*“Hello?” I mumbled in a sleepy voice lifting the call but didn’t open my eyes feeling great for some reason.“We have an emergency, Sir. And we need as much help as we can.” I heard the nurse’s voice who works with our team making me sit up.“I will be there in a few minutes.” I said, hanging up and glanced down to see an arm around me.“Vani!” I whispered, shaking her and she woke up startled before moving away from me in confusion.“There is an emergency and I need to leave for the hospital.” I said and she slowly nodded before rubbing her eyes.“I will be here later to freshen up though.” I added when she seemed to be not sleepy anymore.“Ok! I will also leave soon today then.” She mumbled, getting down from the bed and I frowned, thinking she might stay for us to have a word with each other.“Fine!” I mumbled and immediately got ready before leaving the home in a rush.“How is the patient’s condition? I didn’t get the call about the emergency.” Pallavi asked when I wal
*Rakesh Pov*I frowned looking at the caller ID and sighed before picking it up asking, “What is it, Mom?”“Why didn’t you come home for the past one month? I know your Dad is angry at you but he still wants to see you at home.” She asked while I rubbed my forehead.“Kamal’s Mom passed away two days back and right now I am at Kamal’s village.” I replied and she paused hearing that news.“Pass my condolence to him and until when will you stay there?” She asked while I nodded at Vani who walked towards me.“I packed my things and let me know when we are leaving.” Vani said looking at me and I turned to show her my Bluetooth speaker, and her eyes widened seeing that.“I am so sorry!” she whispered and started stepping back and tried to not make any noise.I chuckled at her action saying, “Don’t worry! I will tell Kamal that you are ready to leave with us.”She nodded walking towards her house and I sighed before sitting on the cement bench outside Kamal’s house.“Who is that?” Mom asked
*David Pov*As we continued to tease Kamal, he shouted at us and it just made us laugh more. A voice joined us and I turned to see Pallavi smiling at Kamal while asking him why is he shouting at Girish while my smile slipped.She is the girl I have liked for so many months already but her eyes always search for Kamal and stay on him without any change no matter how he treats her as just a normal friend.“Ask them, Pallavi.” Kamal replied, and trying to calm himself down.“It is just that we ordered this specially today for a special reason.” I said when she suddenly looked at me and realized I didn’t tell her properly at all.“Today, his fiancé had the same breakfast as per his mom.” Rakesh explained bluntly.“So, today was the day of the week when your mom calls you and gives you live feed of that’s girl’s life?” Pallavi asked chuckling.“You too, Pallavi?” Kamal asked her still with a normal expression.“Come on! It is fun to talk about it. It is not like you are going to marry her.
*Girish Pov*“Why are you both walking so slowly?” I asked frowning at the two interns following me and they didn’t even stand properly to answer me.“Shall I start a quiz as you both seem to be bored with the rounds?” my words immediately made them stand straight.“No need to do that, Dr. Girish. We are completely fine but we are just worried that you still didn’t have lunch yet.” One of them said smiling at me and immediately gestured behind me.“Talking about lunch, we are actually close to the canteen. Why don’t you get some energy by having something to eat, Dr. Girish?” she continued while the other intern nodded with a polite smile.“You both dare to act before me. Let me start the quiz then.” Saying that I turned around to continue to walk passing the canteen only to stop suddenly which made the two people behind me nearly hit my back with their bodies but they stopped themselves.“What happened, Dr. Girish? Suddenly starting to feel hungry after seeing the canteen?” I turned
*Girish Pov*After giving me that nod, she got onto the bus and I continued to stand there to wait until the bus leaves the bus stand.However, I didn’t expect her to stare at me without looking away even after the bus started moving.“All the best!” I shouted and she just smiled at me while I bus drove away.“Damn!” I mumbled to myself feeling surprised to get attracted to someone like this.I need to get to know her better and get her to know me better. With that thought, I took an auto to return to the hospital and found that they are deciding to get Aunty discharged.I froze realizing what this means as the doctor allows a critically ill patient only when… I shook my head and reached over Vani who glanced at me with a confused expression.“She got into the bus and I waited until it drove away.” I explained and her confused expression relaxed after hearing that.“Thank you so much!” she whispered and I shook my head before walking towards my friends as they are discussing on going
*Rupa Pov*I sat on the ground feeling panic after the way I wrote the paper. It was so tough and I tried my best to write each and every answer but I still missed a few.What should I do now? How can I achieve anything if I don’t get good marks? What if I had to stay in this village and get married to the person my parents bring because of having no option to leave this village and get an opportunity to change my life.“Why are you grinning so much today while we all are in grief regarding today’s tough paper?” I heard someone saying and I felt relieved thinking maybe if everyone didn’t write it properly then it could be fine.I continued to hear a conversation but my mind is on a run thinking maybe it will be fine and I need not feel low.But those thoughts got cut off when I realized no one in the city will ask me whether the paper is tough or how much everyone else scored. I need to fight more already because of coming from a village and now with these poor marks my chances will g
*Kamal Pov*“You both get out of the house right now.” That’s what we heard when we reached the already opened door of a house belonging to Vani’s cousin.I glanced at Vani with a questioning look and she just chuckled before gesturing me to enter the house as it’s the most common thing to hear that.“Did we come at the wrong time?” I whispered not wishing to enter a house where an internal fight is going on.“Don’t worry! Let’s go inside and save two people.” Saying that she dragged me inside and held Sharu’s hand with her other hand.When we entered the house, I found two people sitting on the couch in silence and we can hear sounds from the kitchen.“Didn’t I ask both of you to leave the house?” I glanced up to find a woman walking out of the kitchen and glaring at the couch.“Satvi! We both really wanted to help you both but he kept on changing the menu to his wife’s taste and I want to add your favorites and in the end, we prepared all those ingredients.” Rohan pointed out and I
*Vani Pov*I woke up feeling continuous pats on my cheek and opened my eyes to find my daughter standing near the bed and is still patting my cheek to wake me up.I immediately sat up and looked around to find it is still dark and so I checked the time to find it is still two in the morning.“What is it?” I asked in a whisper to not disturb sleeping calmly beside me but he still turned over feeling disturbed.She didn’t say anything but lifted her little finger and I nodded getting down from the bed before holding her hand.When we reached the washroom which is outside the house, I stood near the door while she finished her work before we both walked into the house.I made sure to lock the door and then we both walked to Kamal’s room which is now hers room to sleep.As I made her lay down on the bed, she didn’t let go of my hand while pouting at me. I smiled at her expression and laid down beside her.“Feeling scared?” I asked adjusting her quit.She nodded snuggling into my arms whil
*Vani Pov*“I will be fine.” I said for the millionth time, but all he did was giving me a look showing me he doesn’t believe my words.“You will run the first chance you get.” He said glaring at me.“No! I will do my work silently and will even count to ten before taking second step.” I offered but he shook his head in negative.“I should have let you go to your parent’s home at this time.” He said sighing making me glare at him.“You are the one who said that you wish to take care of me by yourself and want to stay near me.” I pointed out folding my arms.“I didn’t know that you would be this stubborn and not listen to my words at all. Ninth month is running and do you even know what that means?” he asked, raising his hands in the air showing his frustration.“I am working in a hospital and if there is an emergency then I can join immediately.” I replied pleading him.“You will run!” he mumbled, shaking his head slowly but I can see he is near to accepting my wish.“It is actually y
*Pallavi Pov*“Calm down, Pallavi.” David mumbled hugging me, but I just couldn’t calm down.“It is all my fault and I should have cleared everything when I got the chance. Actually, I was about to explain to her, but you drag me away.” I said staring at him.“So, it is my fault?” he asked, raising his eyebrows and I nodded before shaking my head.“I should have known better before playing a childish game and I acted so immature.” I mumbled groaning feeling how it was like doing that at my age.“I love you and they will be fine.” He said, assuring me while I frowned.“Hello?” I said, lifting the call while glancing at the clock to see that it is early in the morning.“Pallavi, will you take care of my cases?” I heard Kamal’s voice.“Of course!” I replied immediately.“Thank you so much.” He mumbled and I immediately felt bad again.“I am really sorry, Kamal.” I mumbled shaking my head.“Just forget about it, Pallavi.” He said in an assuring tone before hanging up.“What does he want?”