Having had her little respite, Dr Ruhana walks out of the breakroom with her friend and fellow surgeon, Dr Samarth.

It has been a tiresome day for her in paediatrics, but that's a routine she's been used to and never found distasteful. The kids in the ward are usually loud and reckless, but adorable at the same time. They need gentle caring, love, and healing alongside medicines. She always strives to provide them with just that. It's heartbreaking to operate on the little ones, let alone see them sick, but seeing them recover provides her utmost joy.

These are her exact feelings today as well, and when Dr Samarth informed her about a conference on pulmonary ailments in kids and invited her to join him to attend the same, she was ecstatic.

Dr Samarth is fairly popular among the masses, and the female staff worship him for his good looks, but his real charm is that he's quite the talented and spirited one in his specialized field.

"Thank you, Samarth," Ruhana says, dropping the 'Dr' part as they are friends, and because this isn't an official conversation. "I'm glad you thought to involve me in this. A new learning experience! This makes my day!"

Well, seeing her childhood best friend, and her secret special someone, Dr Sahil Saxena in the breakroom had been the most delicious treat, but she won't admit it to Samarth.

Sahil is... She doesn't know when he became someone so special. Especially, considering he moved away after they finished high school.

They were sixteen when they parted but were practically joined at the hip ever since the day they were born, probably that was the reason she couldn't forget him. He lived next door. Together they made countless memories. She was heartbroken the day he left, but knew he was going to the States to study medicine. He promised her he'd be back but... she never believed in turning reality.

Her hunch soon proved to be correct. They lost all contact for years.

So it came very much as a surprise when he kept his promise.

Someone who studied in the states, a top-grade doctor usually doesn't return to his homeland, but Sahil did!

One morning he showed up at her same sweet, old home! That was a surprise like no other. She was over the moon seeing his sweet smile. Finding him at her doorway, all grown up and manly, with a bouquet of pink orchids - her favorite flowers in hand and a little basket full of chocolates... Maybe that was the moment when he stole her heart, huh? She certainly didnt fall for the flowers and the chocolates, no. He made her swoon, keeping his promise and... and saying all those sweet words in that slightly unfamiliar, husky, broad voice of his.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be in touch with you, Ruu. I was in Florida, studying, yet I thought of you every single day. Trust me there hasn't been a day when I hadn't thought of you, wished you were next to me. My attempts to reach you failed and I heard you relocated to a different part of the city and had your studies going on, too."

She stared at him open-mouthed. They stood in the doorway, with him showing her a slightly troubled but affectionate smile.

"I had been waiting for this day, Ruu... I'd been wanting to say to you, hey, I'm back... and the day has finally come! I'm back... and now we can be best friends forever!"

His words brought tears to her eyes but she giggled, making him grin and wipe her tears with clumsy fingers. That was the cue, she hugged him tight.

In the days that followed, she'd been studying MD. He'd been doing a similar course. They kept in touch occasionally but to think he'd join the same hospital as she, was another surprise. She couldn't stay mad at him and agreed to be friends right away. This sucks... Just friends when they could be more? But then who knows what's on his mind? He looks like he only sees her as a friend.

Even if he reciprocates her feelings... she can't return his affection, and it is why she won't ever confess her feelings.

"So I was saying..." Ruhana snaps out of her daze, realizing she zoned out for a good while in the middle of the hallway, amidst talking to Dr Samarth. Feeling silly, she shakes her head while Samarth treats her to one of his amused smiles.

"Thinking of Dr Sahil, are you? He's a lucky man."

Ruhana shrugs. "Oh, I don't know about that..."

"Oh, you won't even deny it then? You're guilty, Ruhana, and by the way, you owe me one. I've just saved you from colliding with a stretcher. Buy me a coffee, okay? If you're free, let's grab some coffee right now."

Ruhana throws a disbelieving look at Samarth. "Stretcher? Kaha hai stretcher? Don't tease, Sam. I'm not Pri, okay? Speaking of her, I heard she assisted you with that surgery today."

"Oh, yeah..." Samarth trails off his gaze stopping on something at the end of the hallway.

Ruhana follows his gaze and finds that he's looking at Priyanka and Sahil who've stepped out of the breakroom and are having a little chit chat in the hallway.

Ruhana smiles, glancing at Priyanka's bright smile as she talks to Sahil. Priyanka is her college mate and a dear friend. Priyanka, Sahil, Samarth... She truly is blessed to have such amazing colleagues.

"There... See... doob rahi humari naiyya..." Samarth says and narrows his eyes at the said other pair of doctors. "Our boat is sinking... ugh, what am I saying?" He trails off and scratches his head.

While Ruhana stands there trying to process what she heard, the pair of doctors in conversation pass by her. While Sahil greets Samarth in a formal way, "hello, Dr Samarth," his hand rests on Ruhana's shoulder for a moment in an affectionate touch. Priyanka too smiles at her, throwing a glare at Samarth as she walks away.

Samarth frowns and shakes his head as Sahil and Priyanka walk into the cafeteria and disappear out of sight.

Ruhana snaps out of the stupor Sahil's touch has brought.

Finding Samarth looking sullen, she breathes in deeply before speaking. "You should compliment Priyanka once in a while, you know? She's a good doctor. And she helped you today when your new assistant chickened out. She's your angel, Samarth. You have to give her your thanks for once and do something nice."

Samarth sighs, bobbing his head. He knows Ruhana is right. "Yeah, she was wonderful. Those newbies always chicken out before surgery because there's gonna be blood. I'm tired of it. But honestly, I can't praise Dr Priyanka because it will feed her ego!"

Ruhana punches Samarth's shoulder lightly. "Ego? She's a sweet girl and she's my best friend. Mere saamne uski buraayi na karo tum, samjhe! Oops! Mere piche bhi nahi! I forbid you from making these kinds of remarks about her!"

Samarth sighs again. "Fine, fine. I know she's your best friend," he says, looking Ruhana in the eye. "...but you don't know that she's a different person around me."

"That may be because you're unkind to her. Try being nice, okay? You must play nice, especially when you have a thing for her."

Samarth's shoulders jump hearing Ruhana's words. His eyes go wide for a moment, and then he shakes his head and chuckles. "Please! Who's special? Dr Chudail? No way!"

Ruhana folds her arms giving him a glare. "Woh tumko Dr Daaku kehti hai, pata hai?"

"Han toh?" Samarth grins, waggling his eyebrows. "I know I'd make a handsome pirate. The entire hospital would agree..."

Ruhana throws her hands up in surrender, she keeps her voice low and checks the hallway is empty like before and that there are no eavesdroppers. "Oh, god! You're impossible. Wait... let's rewind. You said humari naiyya doob rahi hai, Samarth! And you were staring at Pri and Sahil! There, you can't lie about your feelings for her, okay?"

"Oh, yeah? Enough of that. Now let's talk about Dr Love!" Samarth pokes her in the shoulder.

"Dr Love?"

"Yep! Your Sahil Goyal! And you're his Dr Angel! Don't you know that?"

Ruhana falls silent. These nicknames threaten to tickle her ribs. Hearing Sahil's name usually makes her happy but not today.

"Sahil aur main... We can't be together ever, even if I love him. By the way, I know my friend too well. Pri treats Sahil as her brother. They goof around a lot but... On that note, you've got nothing to worry about."

Samarth falls silent, noticing the seriousness in her voice. He believes her every word, that's how much he trusts Ruhana. When did they become such good friends?

They enter the cafeteria and find a table, far away from the one Sahil and Priyanka are occupying. When their coffee arrives, they drink in silence before parting ways and returning to their duties.

***

At the end of that day, Samarth sits alone in his cabin. He's done looking at the patients for the day and there aren't any surgeries left. What was Ruhana on about earlier? Does Sahil not like her that way? Why can't they be together?

He didn't prod her further, respecting her privacy. He has no idea why she'd say something like that. It's so sad.

The thing about Sahil and Priyanka being friends reassures him, though. He can't deny it now. He loves the back-and-forths with Dr Priyanka, his beloved Dr Chudail, but he doesn't know what she's thinking. Maybe Ruhana is right and he must play nice, but he hasn't been exactly mean to her, so it's fine right?

Wait! Does this line of thinking mean he's fallen for her?

He sighs, looking at the calendar. Valentine's day is two weeks away. "This may be that time of the year but it's stupid to think about these things. I shouldn't think of this and simply focus on my work like I usually do. Why did I even say that hmm?"

Love is utterly stupid emotion. One that makes a person weak.

He sighs again and gathers his white coat and gear. Grabbing his bag, he walks out of his cabin that's on the first floor.

When he arrives at the hospital lobby, he's greeted by a shocking sight. A white coat-clad doctor has engulfed Sahil in a huge hug. The guy doesn't look like he's happy with the gesture but he hugs her back. The lady simply loops her arm in his and the two of them begin exiting through the entrance.

Samarth quickly pulls out his phone and calls Ruhana's number. He doesn't even say hello.

"Ab toh pakka doob rahi hai tumhari nayya, Ruu! Looby mei dekho. Your ship is sinking but it's not Priyanka."

Ruhana who's also on the way to her home, enters the lobby at the same time. She just received a text message from Sahil saying they can't go home together as usual which is very absurd. What's going on? Samarth's words echo in her ears as she pockets her smartphone now, just as his call ends.

She hurries to stand next to the guy and looks in the direction of where he's pointing. Sahil truly is with a woman! That's a new sight and they are walking towards the parking lot? He's gonna drive her home then? Who's she?

Ruhana bites her lip, and despite her earlier affirmations, she feels conflicted. She thought she was okay with her and Sahil remaining as friends. Just the two of them making friendly conversation and smiling at each other is enough but now... Her feelings are such a mess. Next to her Samarth looks a bit shaken, perhaps imagining Pri with someone.

Ruhana knows Samarth is a bit like her, always choosing duty above everything, but is there a choice? Love is never easy for a doctor, and she has an entirely different reason to not to love.

Her hesitation is going cost her Sahil? Should she stop it from happening, but where should she begin now?

***

Finally an update!

Now who's that woman with Sahil?

What's Ruhana's secret?

Will Samarth ever accept he loves Priyanka?

RuVineet Hope you liked this dear! I will see if this can be a full fledged story! or at least a short story! <3 lots of loveee xoxo

Everyone who read! thank you! please vote and comment