"I don't want to lose her," I said, placing my hand on my heart to calm my racing heartbeat.

"What?" Kabir asked, turning me around by my shoulder.

"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Kabir asked, his voice rising in frustration.

"Kabir, you know very well that I lost my Avni because of my stupidity. I can't bear the thought of losing Sohana too. I don't know why, but I feel scared whenever I think about her leaving me." I replied, my gaze fixed on Sohana.

"Ruhaan, are you kidding with me? Avantika died because God wanted it that way, not because of you," he said, gripping my shoulders firmly.

"Listen, Kabir, love is the purest feeling in this world. And when someone loves you with all their heart, you should accept it. Kyuki ham jis insaan ko andekha karte hain wohi insaan hame sabse jyada pyaar karta hai," he added with a sad smile.

"I know that," I replied, feeling the weight of his words.

Kabir closed his eyes tightly for a moment before reopening them, now red with anger.

"What do you know? Are you really this stupid, Ruhaan? She loves you! Just give her a chance. You care for her so much, then why not move on from Avni? Give your life another chance." He told me, desperation creeping into his voice, but I shook my head firmly.

"I can’t forget Avni, Kabir. She was my first love, and she will always be my last," I said, my tone resolute, though he raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Really? Are you forgetting about her?" Kabir pressed, and my brows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"You are forgetting her, Ruhaan. Your very first crush," he said, and memories of an incident from eleven years ago flashed in my mind.

"Shut up, Kabir. She was just my crush. It was simply an attraction," I insisted, and he nodded as if in understanding.

"So when did I say that you loved her? You said that Avni was the first girl you liked and loved, so I just corrected you," he said casually, but I could feel my frustration boiling.

"Kabir, don’t involve the girl in this situation. I don’t care about her now. As for loving Sohana, I don’t love her. I will never fall for her. I just care for her because she helped me so much. If I am standing in front of you with a smile on my face, it’s because of her. If my family is happy today, she is the reason. That’s why I care for her so much. I can’t tolerate if anything happens to her. She is precious to me." I said the last line without even realizing its weight.

"That’s what, Ruhaan! She is precious to you, and you love her," he stated, and now I was thoroughly frustrated.

"Shut the fuck up, Kabir!" I yelled at him, and he looked at me with wide eyes.

"Don't shout at me, Ruhaan! Your mind is fucked up with your stupid thoughts. You’re not able to listen to your heart. Bring a fucking stethoscope from Sohana and place it on your heart to listen to what it is saying," he shouted back.

"Stop using that fuck word again and again. It’s an orphanage; there are children here," I yelled again, my voice echoing.

"You were the fucking one who started it! And even now you're using it. Correct yourself first, then come and correct me," he said, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"You fucking bast—"

"What the hell are you two doing here?" a familiar loud female voice interrupted us. We turned our gazes and found Sohana glaring at us.

"Are you both out of your minds?" she asked, her tone firm as she focused on me.

"I think you’re forgetting it’s an orphanage. Children are living here. What will they learn from you? These kinds of words? If you’re really so desperate to use that word, then go outside. Or if you want, you two can do it practically. We don’t have any problem," she said, rolling her eyes at us.

Kabir and I exchanged incredulous looks.

Is she serious?

We both glared at her, and she glared back, albeit in a cute way.

"What? I am not scared of you two!" she said defiantly, giving us a tight-lipped smile.

With a final roll of her eyes and a stomp of her feet, she walked away, leaving us in stunned silence.

What the fuck?

I looked at Kabir, who shrugged and mimicked her eye roll and stomp before walking away himself.

What the fuck?

"Are these two out of their minds?" I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes as I followed them.

I found Sohana playing with the kids, her laughter ringing out like music. Kabir was also engrossed, playing with a little girl, his usual bravado softened by the joy of the moment. I approached Sohana and patted her shoulder.

"Yes!" she turned back with a smile, but it quickly faded when she saw my face.

"What now?" she asked in an annoyed tone.

"You... Why are you behaving like this?" I asked, circling my finger through her face, trying to gauge her mood.

"What? I am behaving how? You are behaving so chipku. Pehle to reject kiya, ab chipak rahe hain aap," she replied, her lips curving in annoyance.

"Sohana! How many more times do I have to say sorry to you?" I pleaded, my tone earnest.

"Ruhaan, you're not understanding. Saying sorry won’t fix everything. Let's try to be normal. You're my patient, and I’m just your doctor, so let’s keep it formal," she said, her voice steady.

"Don't," I warned her, a note of urgency creeping into my tone.

"Ruhaan—"

I gripped her wrist firmly and led her outside of the orphanage.

"Why are you not listening to me, Sohana?" I asked once we were away from prying eyes.

"Why are YOU not listening to me, Ruhaan?" she yelled, her frustration mirroring mine.

"You rejected me, and I accepted it. Now let me move on from you, even though I know I can’t," she continued, her voice thick with emotion.

"Sohana—"

"What are you two doing here?" Kabir’s voice broke through the tension, and we both turned to see him frowning at us.

"Nothing," Sohana said quickly, glancing at me.

"Btw, Sohana, what are you doing here?" Kabir asked, his tone lightening.

"I came to meet these kids. I frequently come here to spend time with these little cuties. You know they are orphans, and I really feel bad for them. They are so small yet have to suffer so much. They all deserve happiness and love, but God wants something else. And what can you do when God wants something else? That’s why I come here to meet these kids and give them gifts to see them smile," she said, her voice softening, but I could see the sadness lurking beneath.

"And anyway, I can’t even see them now," she added quietly.

"What?" I asked, my concern piqued, and she looked at me with a sad smile.

"What do you mean by that, Sohana?" Kabir asked, mirroring my worry.

"I am going to Singapore," she stated, and my heart sank.

"But why?" Kabir pressed, looking as bewildered as I felt.

"You know, Kabir, it has been one and a half years since I joined the hospital as a doctor. When I started, I never thought I would achieve this much success in such a short time. In these one and a half years, I treated many people, met new faces, and they all became my family. I found a home in them. But now I think I should grow up, learn something new, and improve myself as a doctor. That’s why I am going to Singapore. A well-known hospital there has given new psychiatrists an opportunity to go and improve ourselves. I thought I shouldn’t miss this chance to become a better doctor. By improving myself, I can save many lives, and that is a blessing for me. So, I decided to go to Singapore," she explained, her eyes shining with determination.

I nodded, but deep down, my heart ached. I knew she was doing this for her growth, but I felt lost at the thought of her leaving. How would I manage without her?

"When are you going then?" Kabir's voice brought me back, and I looked at Sohana expectantly.

"Day after tomorrow," she replied, and my heart sank further.

Day after tomorrow? Is it really so soon?

She'll leave me so quickly?

Can she really live without me?

But she loves me, right?

Then how can she just leave?

"Day after tomorrow? Isn’t it too soon?" Kabir asked, echoing my thoughts.

"Yes, but they told us to be there by that day," she said, her tone resigned as we both nodded silently.

"Okay then, I should leave. I will bid goodbye to the kids," she said, waving as she went back inside.

I looked at Kabir, who met my gaze with a newfound resolve.

"Bye! I have a race today," he said, turning to leave but, "But you came with me right? Then how will you go?" I asked him and he turned towards me with a tight-lipped smile.

"I will go by a cab. I don't need your help!" He said, rolling his eyes at me and walked away.

I stood there helpless. I don't know what should I do now.

I saw Sohana coming outside with her bag.

"Sohana!" I called her and she looked at me.

I walked towards her and stood infront of her. She looked down, ignoring eye contact with me.

"I am sorry! I have hurted you a lot. And now, you're going away from me. Please promise me, whenever you'll come back you'll meet me. And if anything will happen to you then you'll call me." I told her holding her hand and she looked at me.

I was shocked by her next movement. She hugged me tightly hiding her face in the crook of neck. I wrapped my arms around her and caged her.

"I hope you'll understand your feelings, Ruhaan." She whispered in my ear.

"Remember that I am always with you." She continued and moved her face and looked at me.

She touched my cheeks as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Suddenly she moved my hands from her waist and walked away

"Am I going wrong somewhere?" I whispered.

🧿

Today is the day; Sohana will go to Singapore.

In the past two days, both Ruhaan and Sohana had been deeply disturbed, each lost in their thoughts about the other. Ruhaan felt an unsettling restlessness that gnawed at him. He couldn't shake off the growing fear that Sohana would leave him behind, a reality he desperately wished to avoid. Although he understood that this was a great opportunity for her, he couldn't help but feel a void creeping in.

It seemed as if he was hiding something from himself, as if a revelation lingered just out of reach. Somewhere within him, he knew he was going wrong, unable to listen to his heart, but the exact nature of that disconnect remained elusive.

On the other hand, Sohana was enveloped in a blanket of sadness. While she was excited about going to Singapore to advance her career, there was a pressing desire within her to understand what lay in Ruhaan's heart. She longed to hear the sweet words of affection she had yearned to hear from him for so long. Those three words, “I love you,” felt as vital to her as oxygen, but what could she do when Ruhaan himself struggled to recognize his own emotions?

They both spent these two days steeped in introspection, wrestling with their feelings as time slipped away.

Now, Sohana was getting ready to leave for Singapore. Alisha, Rishi, and Nitya were all present at her home, providing company and support during this bittersweet moment.

“Soha baby, I will miss you,” Alisha said, hugging her from behind as Sohana completed her preparations.

“I will miss you too, my darling,” Sohana replied, planting a gentle kiss on Alisha's head.

“We will also miss you,” both Rishi and Nitya chimed in, holding Sohana's bags with determined smiles.

“Same to you!” Sohana said, blowing them a flying kiss.

“Let’s go; we have just two hours left,” she urged, grabbing her handbag.

“Wait, I need to say goodbye to my dad,” she added, heading toward her father’s room.

“Dadddd!!!!” she called, rushing in and enveloping him in a tight embrace.

“I will miss you soooo muchhh,” she said, her voice quivering as tears welled in her eyes.

“I will miss you too, beta,” her father replied, patting her head affectionately.

“I’m so sorry I can’t go to the airport with you,” he added, a hint of regret in his smile.

“It’s okay, Dad. You’re not well, and you’ve only just gotten home; you must be exhausted. Don’t worry about me. Alisha, Rishi, and Nitya are here to take care of me,” she reassured him, forcing a bright smile.

“I’m happy to hear that you have such wonderful friends,” he said, beaming with pride.

“Yes, I should leave now. Take care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. I’ve organized everything in the kitchen, so please don’t mess it up. Also, I’ve hired a new servant who will come and cook for you and clean the house. And remember, if there’s an emergency, call me, and I will come back no matter what,” she said, kissing her father’s hand before leaving the room.

“You take care of your health too,” her father said, kissing her forehead tenderly.

Sohana stepped outside, waving goodbye to her father before climbing into the car with her friends.

As they approached the airport, they stood in the terminal, waiting for the announcement of her flight.

“Sohana, haven’t you told Ruhaan that you’re going to Singapore for a year?” Alisha asked, concern etching her features.

Sohana nodded. “I told him day before yesterday.”

Alisha frowned. “Then why hasn’t that jerk shown up yet?”

“I don’t know; maybe he doesn’t care. I think he doesn’t love me, Alisha,” Sohana said, her voice tinged with sadness.

After a few minutes, an announcement echoed through the terminal, informing everyone that the flight to Singapore would depart in just 35 minutes.

“You should go and check in,” Alisha urged, glancing at her watch.

“Okay,” Sohana replied, glancing back, her heart sinking as she waited for Ruhaan.

“I think he won’t come,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Byeee!” All her friends hugged her tightly, and Sohana made her way to the check-in counter.

Suddenly, a loud voice pierced the air. “Sohana!”

Turning around, she saw Ruhaan sprinting toward her, Kabir closely behind him. They both halted in front of her, and Ruhaan handed her a beautifully wrapped box.

Sohana’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, but Ruhaan stopped her before she could open it. “Open it when you reach Singapore,” he instructed, a warm smile gracing his face.

“Take care of yourself. Call me whenever you need anything. Have a safe journey. Goodbye!” His voice trembled as fresh tears threatened to spill.

Sohana pulled him into a tight embrace, burying her face in his chest. Ruhaan’s arms encircled her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground, an instinctual act of comfort.

Tears streamed down Sohana’s cheeks, her sobs muffled against him. Ruhaan fought back his own emotions, determined to hold himself together.

“I love you,” Sohana whispered, hoping against hope for him to respond, but silence hung in the air between them. Her heart shattered at the absence of his words.

Pulling away, she dashed into the terminal, leaving Ruhaan standing there, his heart racing and his mind racing. As she disappeared from view, he felt a surge of longing like never before. It was as if a light bulb had finally illuminated the darkness in his mind.

“Ruhaan, let’s go! Sohana has already left. Her friends have also gone,” Kabir urged, shaking him from his thoughts.

“I love you, Sohana.”

🧿

Hey all! Our Ruhaan finally realised his love for Sohana. Now just wait for his confession.

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Love you all! ❤️🧿

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