DRISHTI'S POV
The news hit me like a punch to the stomach:
"Well-known businessman Mr. Harshvardhan Kapoor was found dead yesterday in a car accident."
My breath hitched. He was the man I had met only yesterday in the cafe . I looked at my mom, who seemed to be blaming me for something throwing draggers through her eyes , as though I were at fault.
"I don't know anything! I don't know how this happened," I said, meeting her gaze, feeling the weight of her unspoken accusations.
"Seriously? You don't understand? We've lost so much!" she shouted, her voice rising with anger and disappointment.
I muttered under my breath, barely audible, "It's good he died." I lightly scratched my neck, hoping she didn't hear.
She didn't miss a beat. "Look at how unlucky you are! You meet him yesterday, and today he's gone. Do you think anyone will marry someone like you?"
Her words stung like a slap, but I didn't react. If I did, I knew she would only hurt me more.
The doorbell rang
Kaka opened the door and welcomed my father inside, taking his suitcases and bags.
Papa sat down on the sofa, drinking some water and letting out a long, tired sigh, as if to release the weight of his exhaustion.
"Did you meet someone and ask them to invest in our corporation?" Mom asked, her voice dripping with expectation. It was clear-she was asking about money.
"Please, don't," Papa replied curtly. "I don't want to discuss."
"But I'm your wife! I have the right to know," she shot back.
"Business is handled by me and Nirav. We know how to take care of it," he said firmly. Then, his tone softened just a bit, "Also, Nirav got a very good project, so he won't be around here much."
Mom scrunched her nose in disapproval, but I wasn't needed in that conversation anymore, so I quietly slipped away to my room.
After freshening up and taking care of my morning business, I went to pack my bag. That's when I noticed a red note on it. I picked it up and read:
"He is gone."
Confusion washed over me.
Who left this note? What was it even supposed to mean?
The questions swirled in my mind:
Who put this here?
Who's gone?
Why would someone do this?
Suspicion crept in, causing beads of sweat to form on my forehead. Was someone watching me?
But why?
What reason could they have?
Then, my heart skipped a beat.
"Drishti!"
I blinked, trying to process what I'd just heard. Had my father-my father-just called my name?
After all these years of silence, it felt like an eternity had passed before I registered it.
Excitement flooded through me, and in my eagerness, I rushed downstairs, leaving the note behind.
"Yes, Papa?" I asked, my voice shaky with nervous energy.
"A marriage proposal has come for you," he said, adding a pause for emphasis, which only made my anxiety grow.
Marriage?
The word felt like a sudden weight on my chest. I hadn't even thought about it until now-how could I be ready?
Until yesterday, I wasn't even sure I wanted this.
"The family will come to see you tomorrow. Be ready, and take the day off from the hospital," he added, his face as unreadable as ever.
"But Papa, I don't think I'm ready," I said, my voice trembling, my hands instinctively clutching the fabric of my dress as if it could ground me.
"A person is never truly ready for marriage. But this family is good, and it's good for you," he replied without emotion.
Good for me?
I thought, stepping closer to him, my heart racing in my chest.
Do you even care?
He stood up, meeting my gaze with an unflinching certainty. "Yes, they are. Now, I have work to do," he said, and turned to leave for his office.
A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked hard to stop the tears.
If meeting this family meant I could finally get my father's attention, then I would go through with it. I would do anything to earn his love.
I gathered my things and left for the hospital, trying to push the thoughts of tomorrow out of my mind.
---ββββββ-----
At the hospital, Nisha and I were stuck in a boring seminar, barely paying attention.
"Bro, yaar, this is getting so boring," Nisha complained, her voice barely a whisper.
"I know, but we have to give attendance, that's why I'm here," I whispered back, hoping no one heard our little exchange.
"Why is there even a seminar today? It's not even a special day. This senior doctor of ours just organized it out of nowhere," Nisha continued.
"Senior Doctor? What do you mean by that?" I raised an eyebrow, curious.
"Remember Dr. Shekhawat? The one I told you about on the phone yesterday? He's the one who arranged this seminar," she explained.
Dr. Shekhawat... my mind raced. Mister Handsome had organized this? That only made things a little more interesting.
"Yeah, and he called all the aspiring students. Like, bro, it's like a whole jungle in here," Nisha laughed.
I burst out laughing. "If it's a jungle, you must be the Mogli," I teased.
Nisha snorted, then grinned mischievously. "And that 'Lizard'-the senior doctor I had that argument with-is the Shere Khan!"
"A lizard?!" I laughed, unable to contain myself. "What happened with the argument?"
"Well," she began, "I was parking my scooty in my usual spot, but this 'Lizard' started shouting that it was his spot. So, when he wasn't looking, I snuck over and punctured his bike tire."
I couldn't help but laugh harder. "You did what?!"
"I did! But it's not like he didn't deserve it," Nisha grinned.
I couldn't stop laughing, but as my laughter echoed, I realized we were attracting unwanted attention. So, I quickly turned my laugh into a cough to cover it up.
"Bro, control yourself!" Nisha passed me a water bottle, but I couldn't help the giggles that still bubbled up.
"I think we should get out of here before someone notices," she suggested, her eyes darting around.
"Good idea. I'll laugh at anything today," I exclaimed collecting our belongings.
As we snuck out of the seminar.
" Yaar , bhook lagi hai chalna canteen" I told Nisha, wincing a little, keeping my hand on my stomach.
I am walking backwards, facing towards Nisha. Suddenly she got a call to attend and she stopped near the water cooler .But I decided to keep walking like that only.
I think it's fun to walk lik- my words hung on my mind .
As suddenly, I bumped my back into someone and I abruptly tried to take a turn but my hair felt a tug on another person's button or something like that causing both of us to lose our balance ,before we could completely lose our balance,and the next better thing I knew, I was pinned between a wall and the person I had collided with.
There he was... Dr. Shekhawat.
His presence, was electrifying, and I could feel the chaos in my heart. My heart pounded like I was about to crash into him.
Our orbs stuck on each other . The way he is standing near me , definitely causing a havoc in my stomach .
He raised his eyes , then I also raised mine .
He raised his eyes one more time . I also raised mine .
Now a little confused, am I getting wrong signals
"Uhm , your hair.. they are stuck " He said breaking the chaos of silence .
Just like my eyes ....on YOU!!
I wanted to say this so badly but kept my mouth shut.
"Your hair !! I think it must be painful"
Ouch ..ouch yes it's painful.
I lifted my eyes to meet his, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Then he spoke.
"Let me help you," gently trying to untangle the strand of hair caught on his button.
It was painful, and I winced, but he was being so patient. The moment stretched on forever. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my hair was freed.
I let out a relieved breath. "Sorry, I was walking backward," I said, embarrassed.
"It's okay. I was a little lost in my thoughts," he replied, his voice soothing.
We stood there in silence for a moment until
Nisha appeared, shouting, "Bro , chal vo fuddu seminar start hone aur vo akdu senior doctor k aane se pehle."
That's it I wanted the earth to swallow me .
Could she not think before she spoke?
"What happened why are you not moving"
Tu bhi dekh andhi (blind) , tu bhi statue ban jayegi.
( "You also look, blind one, you'll turn into a statue too.")
"Ahm ahm " Dr. Shekhawat cleared his throat, gaining her attention. She blinked, startled.
"Sir, you must have misunderstood. I was just telling her how amazing your lectures are. We all should attend your seminar,"
Nisha said, suddenly playing it off.
I could have sworn I saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, but he simply nodded.
"Is that so?" he said with a slight smile.
Then, his gaze flickered back to me for a moment.
Why did he look at me like that?
Don't look at me like this . My heart will burst sir !
Nisha grabbed my hand, pulling me away from him, and we hurried back toward the seminar hall.
"Seriously, I said that in front of him !" Nisha finally regretted what she said throwing her hands in the air.
"Relax, he didn't say anything "
"Still, what will he be thinking of me "
Why would he be thinking about you , when his eyes collided with mine !!
"Nothing, he has so much work , he will not think about this encounter" I tried to relax her a bit and to not overthink.
As we sat down, I couldn't stop thinking about the look in Dr. Shekhawat's eyes.
Then the seminar went smoothly, when he was giving his speech we had some eye contact in between giving me butterflies .
An unknown smile formed on my face.
After leaving the seminar hall, I checked my mobile phone .
And it's a message from my father !!
Did I see it clearly, I rubbed my eyes one more time and checked one more time .Yes it's real !!
I got a message from my father. It said :
"Don't forget to apply for leave tomorrow. And if you want, pick out a nice dress from the store."
I was a bit disappointed but it's okay at least he messaged me .
Not thinking further . I hurriedly, went to submit my application to the office so that they can consider my leave .
But there , I also met with HIM .
"Hi" he said
"Hello , Sir" I replied, shying.
"You here"
" Ohh I am taking a leave tomorrow so I had to submit the application "
"Why , do you have a fever or something, are you okay" concerns dropping from his behaviour.
"No , I am all good , I just have some personal work to do."
"It's okay then, take care"
He checked his mobile , reading some messages he got tense and said he will meet later .
And bid goodbye.
β β β β β
Everything was set in motion.
But as I lay in bed at night, one question lingered:
Tomorrow, I will meet someone who might become my life partner.
But can he make my heart race the way Dr. Shekhawat does?
The way his eyes lock with mine, making everything else disappear... Can anyone else do that?
I know it would be unfair to the person coming to see me tomorrow.
I have to stop thinking about Dr. Shekhawat.
Whatever fleeting spark or nervous excitement I feel when I think of him, it has to end here.
I won't let myself think about HIM .
That's what I told my stupid heart .
************************************************************************
(2000 words)
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