PIHA'S POV:

I wipe the sweat beads off my forehead.

WHAT A TIRING DAY. Will you stop being dramatic, Piha?

Nevermind. It's around eight right now and I feel very tired plus happy I'll say.

Happy, why?

I met Vihaan's mom today. Vihaan, the little guy with the flat foot. She told Vihaan had a successful surgery and he was pestering upon meeting me-

Like seriously??

I feel so delighted right now. I smile to myself as I park my car outside the boundary of Model colony Lake. I start to hum and do a little dance to Ye Ishq Haye. Call me a weirdo but I do sing songs when I'm happy.

"Todi Mene Sare Hi Bandhan Zamane Tere
"I have broken all the relationships with the world

Todungi Na Main Waada
I won't break my promise (that I made to You)

Aadha Hissa Mere To Dil Ki Kahani Ka Tu
You are half the part of my love story

Piya Mein Baaki Aadha
My Beloved, I am the rest half of it

Dekho Na Dekho Mujhe Kya Hua Hai-"
Look now look, what's happened to me-"

And before I can even finish my lyric, I stumble over something and fall backwards.

OUCH.

Will you stop being clumsy, Piha?!

"It's not my fault! This dumb tree." I slap my palms on the tree's roots.

Wait.

That feels like fabric. I divert my vision sideways— and hope the ground opens up swallowing me in.

"Are you okay, Piha? Are you injured?" I see him panic as he scans me. I gulp.

"I'm okay, Raghvansh sir."

"That's a relief." He mutters, loud enough for me to hear. As realisation hits me, I quickly remove my hands placed on his shin and jump up.

I freaking embarrassed myself,

Again.

Should I just run away, no wait? That would be very rude and immature of me. But you can't stay here.

God. I scratch my forehead roughly.

One— He heard me singing in the ugly voice of mine and he probably watched the little dance I did too.

And two— I tripped over his leg and called him a tree. It can't get more embarrassing, can it?

I shamelessly take a seat beside Him.

"I was hoping to see you here, Piha. I'm glad you came." I hear him say. Of course, I can't meet his gaze now.

But, I'm sure I didn't hear him right, why would he be happy meeting me? Okay, I get it, he was just being sarcastic.

"When did you come sir?"

"Around 10-15 minutes ago." He says checking his watch. "You look very happy today, what's up?"

I instantly grin. "Nothing sir, just about a patient."

"Ahaan? Tell me about it." He says leaning back.

I grin and say- "There was this young boy at Fortis, not more than eight or nine, he couldn't walk because of his flat foot. I met him a few weeks back.

"He was reluctant upon getting the surgery but I kind of convinced him and then he said he would get it. Today I met his mom- she was told me he got selected for the school football team which he always dreamt of but couldn't due to his foot. She told me how happy he was and he had been asking his mom to meet me."

"It makes me so happy you know." I say looking at the stars and turn my attention towards him,

Only to find him staring at me. Please clarify, why does he keep looking at you that way, Piha?

What? He's..just..looking at me.

"That's what we became doctors for, right? It might be giving immense joy to watch so you're patient recover. You've probably worked very hard for it, you deserve it, Piha." We share a smile and he intervenes our fingers.

I feel my heart do a summersault.

Piha, you cannot simply ignore the way he affects you. I think my Internals aren't having much Respiration or Digestion processes nowadays, they seem to be crossing the line.

I avoid the unnecessary thoughts and have a look at Raghvansh sir. He looks all impressive in his formals. I look away before he thinks of me as a creep.

"Sir, were you somewhere before this? I mean, you look all dressed up." I try not to sound curious.

"Oh yes, we had a team meeting in Mumbai with the Delhi Warriors management, was just returning home. I asked the chauffeur to drop me here and that's why I didn't have any time to change."

"IKL meeting?! But I guess there are still a few months to the next season right?"

"Yes, but the auctions are this week." He looks at me. "I'll assume you watch IKL too. Who's your favourite?" Does he really want to know my favourites?

"My favourite player will be Kaushal Singhania, no doubt to that." Comes my instant reply. "And team- Delhi Warriors and...yup, Pune Panthers too because it's our home team."

I see him smirk. "Really? Why Delhi Warriors?"

Shit.

He's the captain of Delhi. He's surely thinking I'm just saying it to be polite.

"I don't know, it's been that way since the first time I watched IKL, about 6 years ago maybe. There's a connection- I feel sad when y'all lose and I feel happy when y'all win. Though there have been times I felt very bad but I couldn't give up or stop supporting Delhi because it feels like an emotion, not a team." I say with a smile.

"Piha, I'm happy we have fans like you." We fall into silence. Not an awkward silence but a comfortable one.

I feel guilty about judging him as I believed when the media displayed him rude and arrogant, in fact, he's very approachable. It's been years since I've spoken to someone apart from Roman this easily.

"Piha." His voice husky enough to give chills. "I'm sorry."

What was that for?

"Why would you say that, Sir?" I ask inquisitively.

"I shouldn't have asked you about..uh.. your friend. I made you overthink and upset, didn't I?"

Okay, he's talking about Roman. Dumb me forgot to change my profile photo,

For freaking six months.

It did make me think for a while and I may or may not have cried for a while. Though I won't admit it because I don't want him to feel guilty.

"No sir, it didn't make me upset, in fact I was quite rude to you later. I'm sorry." I lie, not the second part though. We were having a little a chat and when Roman's topic came up, I kind of ruined our conversation.

I come out of my daydreams and watch him stare at me. Our eyes lock on like north and south pole of a magnet. His 'I know it all' blue orbs haunting you as always but providing an essence of comfort at the same time.

"You're bad at lying." He declares. I quickly look away, trying to hide the unknown emotions. "Look at me, Piha."

I hesitantly beheld him.

"It's okay Piha, I understand. No one likes to show their vulnerable side. Just know, it's going to be okay." He flashes me a smile and I return him one.

"His name sounded very familiar, so I did look up for him on Safari." He continues.

"Yes, he was your Batchmate." He nods.

"I'm surprised I couldn't recognise him. He excelled at every goddamn subject and he was Utkarsh's doctor for a while too." 

"Yes yes, I know. He did tell me about that, or more like flex about that." I giggle and as realisation hits me, I pass him an astounded look.

Okay, I did not know about the Utkarsh part. Roman never mentioned that.

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking you. Does your friend Utkarsh, really like Di? I mean you're free to ignore my question." I look at him eagerly.

He chuckles.

What's wrong??

Was my question dumb? Or do they also have some bro-code of not sharing each others information.

"You should watch him." He lets out a laugh. "All he talks about is Aaraya and the way he blushes at her mentions. He's madly in love with her." I go into a little muse hearing his laughter.

Bliss

Why doesn't he laugh more often? But wait, What did he just say?

"Madly in love?!" I say as my jaw drops. "He did say he liked her. Where did this love come from?"

I continue to throw him a questionable look, my patience on it's peak.

If the Birla guy is in love with Di, it's going to be a mess. It's not easy as he thinks.

"Yes Piha, he's in love with Aaraya. I guess he didn't confess it because she would freak out and not even give him a chance. Getting into the protective sister role already?" He chuckles.

"Oh yes, onto that bit too. I do love Di a lot and if the Birla guy tries to hurt her, I'll make sure he ends up in prison." I squint and dramatically swipe my thumb across the neck.

"Stop being this adorable, will you?"

He didn't say that, right??

I feel heat creep up my neck. Di says I blush easily, I hope it's not true- because if it is, I'm probably looking like a Tomato's distant relative.

"I'm not ad-adorable." I say like a shuttering mess.

"As if." I sense his gaze upon me. "Piha, it's natural of you to worry for your sister but trust me Utkarsh won't ever hurt her or even touch her without consent. I know she's just out of a relationship but time will get them closer and I'm sure she'll trust him soon."

Makes sense.

"I feel a bit better now, sir. But I just hope he doesn't give up on her."

"I'm sure he won't. One more thing, didn't we decide to cut off the sir." He says wriggling his eyebrows.

"But just saying Raghvansh sounds weird you know. I've seen people around and me too idolize you, it's just a sudden change." I honestly reply.

"As per your comfort, Piha. Anyway what-" I hear him groan as my phone beeps.

"It's Di. You were saying something, sir?"

"I'll text you later Piha. It's late anyway." He says.

"I'll see soon then sir." We part our ways and the smile doesn't leave my lips.

It felt effortless with him. I never expected someone like to be so grounded. Be it his laughter or the way he comforts, everything feels so pleasant.

"I would love to be friends with him." I declare to myself with a ear-to-ear grin.

                                           ~√~√

Author's note:

Hey, hope you're doing well!
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The next update will be out on 25th, Friday.
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