The day had been exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Srishti's mind was cluttered with everything—her hectic schedule, the fight with Sahil, and the lingering thoughts about Chris. She had been trying to avoid any interaction with him, but the universe had a strange way of testing her patience. Fortunately, after their initial tense encounters, she had managed to steer clear of him—until today, that is.

After her shift at the hospital, Srishti decided to take a walk in the park near her house, seeking some quiet. She had barely settled on a bench when she heard soft sobbing nearby. Startled, she turned and saw a little girl sitting on the ground, clutching her knee. Srishti's heart squeezed as she hurried over to the child.

"Hey, sweetheart," Srishti said gently, crouching down beside the girl. "What happened?"

The girl, probably around six years old, sniffled and looked up with big, teary blue eyes. "I was playing and... and I fell." She wiped her nose with her sleeve, her small face streaked with tears.

Srishti smiled softly, recognizing the girl's vulnerability. "That looks like a nasty scrape. Where's your mum or dad?"

The girl sniffled again and shook her head. "Auntie's home. Daddy's at work."

"Let's get you home, then. I'll help you," Srishti said, offering her hand. "Do you live nearby?"

The girl nodded and accepted her help, holding Srishti's hand tightly as they made their way to the house. To Srishti's surprise, the girl led her down a familiar street—right toward her temporary abode, Aunt Malory's house. The girl pointed to the adjacent house.

"Here," the little girl said, wobbling a little on her feet. Srishti helped her inside and called out, "Hello? Is anyone home?"

A flustered voice called back from another room. "I'm coming!"

Moments later, a young woman probably in her mid 20s appeared. Her eyes widened with worry when she saw the girl.

"Oh, Ella! Where have you been?" the woman exclaimed, rushing over to the little girl. "You scared me!"

"I'm sorry, Auntie. I just wanted to play," Ella said softly, looking down at her scraped knee.

Srishti gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, she's fine. Just a little scrape. I found her in the park."

The woman sighed in relief and gave Srishti a grateful smile. "Thank you so much for bringing her home. I was looking for her just now."

"It's no problem at all," Srishti replied warmly. "I'm just glad she's okay."

"You're a lifesaver," Ella's aunt added, brushing her hand through her hair. "I'm watching her today while her father's at work, but this one is always sneaking off."

"Kids," Srishti chuckled, kneeling down to pat Ella's head. "You take care of that knee, alright?"

Ella nodded, still a bit shy, but managed a small smile before Srishti took her leave.

The next morning, Srishti arrived at the hospital for her new posting in the pediatric trauma center. She was prepared for another day of chaos but found a strange calm in the children's laughter and the genuine resilience they displayed. There was something particularly rewarding about working with the kids—watching their small faces light up, seeing them recover and laugh despite their injuries.

Srishti was finishing up her rounds in the paediatric trauma ward, her attention focused on a little boy with a cast on his arm who had been particularly quiet since she entered. She crouched beside his bed, her voice soft and cheerful.

"Hey there, little champ," she said, offering him a small toy. "Do you like dinosaurs? This one can roar if you press its belly."

The boy's eyes widened, a small smile breaking through as he hesitantly reached for the toy. Srishti smiled, relieved, as he began playing with it. There was something about working with kids that grounded her, reminded her why she was here. Trauma care was intense, but children had a way of showing resilience that never failed to amaze her.

Just as she stood up, making a note in her clipboard, she heard a familiar voice behind her. The deep, authoritative tone sent a chill through her, immediately pulling her from the moment of peace.

"You're good with them," Chris remarked.

Srishti straightened, turning around to find Chris standing by the door. His blue eyes were focused on her, watching her closely, but his expression gave nothing away.

"Thanks," she replied, her voice calm but a little tight. She wasn't expecting an encounter with him, especially not here. She had been doing her best to avoid him since their first tense interaction, though she had seen him around the hospital. "Kids are honest. They tell you how they feel without holding back."

Chris stepped further into the room, his gaze briefly shifting to the boy playing on the bed before returning to Srishti. "Most people aren't as comfortable dealing with children in trauma care. It takes a certain level of patience."

"Patience I have," she said with a small smile, trying to keep things light despite the tension she still felt around him.

Chris studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I didn't expect to see you working in paediatrics," he admitted. "You seemed... distracted the other day."

Srishti bristled slightly at the memory. "It was just an off day," she replied, her tone steady but firm. She didn't like being judged on one interaction, especially when it was clear she hadn't been at her best that day. "I take my work seriously."

Chris nodded, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I see that now."

An awkward silence stretched between them, the hum of the machines and the occasional chatter of the children in the background filling the space. Srishti wanted to leave it at that, but something about Chris made her feel like he was holding back, like he wanted to say more.

She glanced at him, trying to gauge his mood, and decided to shift the focus. "Do you work with the trauma unit often?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation professional.

"Yes," Chris said, crossing his arms. "I specialize in trauma, particularly in children. It's... personal for me."

Srishti noticed a flicker of something in his eyes—pain, maybe, or a memory he wasn't willing to share. But before she could ask, the boy on the bed called out for her, holding up the toy dinosaur proudly.

"Look, it roars!" he said with a grin.

Srishti laughed softly, walking back to the bed. "That's amazing! You take good care of him, okay?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically, and Srishti gave him a small wave before turning back to Chris. He was watching her again, and this time, his gaze was less guarded, almost... impressed.

"You really have a way with them," he said quietly, his voice softer now. "It's not something you can learn. Either you have it or you don't."

Srishti met his gaze, feeling the tension between them ease, if only slightly. "Thanks," she replied, her voice equally soft. "It's important to me."

Chris nodded, lingering for a moment longer before stepping back toward the door. "I'll see you around, Srishti."

She blinked, surprised he remembered her name. She hadn't expected that, nor the almost respectful tone in his voice.

"Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "See you around."

As Chris walked out of the ward, Srishti let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Whatever misunderstanding they'd had before seemed to have lifted, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. She wasn't sure what to make of him, either.

There was something about Chris, something she couldn't quite place. But for now, she decided to focus on her patients, pushing thoughts of the complicated, blue-eyed professor to the back of her mind.

Later that evening, after another long day at the hospital, Srishti settled onto her balcony, exhausted but content. Olivia was inside, working on an assignment, while Srishti hummed softly to herself, the rhythm of an old song filling the cool evening air.

In the adjacent house, Chris sat on his balcony, lost in thought. The day had been exhausting, and his mind was on overdrive. But as he sat there, something caught his ear—a gentle, familiar melody drifting through the air. He closed his eyes, letting the song wash over him.

It reminded him of his late wife—her voice, soft and sweet, used to fill their home with songs just like this. The haunting melody pulled at his heart, evoking a mixture of memories that were both beautiful and painful. He didn't know who the singer was, but he listened, momentarily lost in the sound, not knowing that it was Srishti singing on the balcony next door.

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