Agastya sat quietly in Hardik's ward, watching his father rest peacefully. The soft hum of the machines was the only sound in the room, grounding him as he tried to absorb the events of the day. Suddenly, a gentle knock broke the silence. He turned to see Aadhya standing at the door, her face lit with a small, reassuring smile.

Agastya's tense shoulders relaxed a bit as he met her gaze, grateful for her presence. Aadhya stepped in, moving quietly to avoid disturbing Hardik's sleep. She came to stand by Agastya, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be okay," she whispered, her voice warm and steady. "He's stronger than anyone gives him credit for."

Agastya let out a shaky breath, nodding. "I just... I wasn't ready for this, Aadhya," he admitted, glancing down at his hands. "Seeing him like that... I didn't know how much it'd get to me."

She knelt down beside him so they were eye level. "It's completely normal. Hardik's your hero—you're allowed to be scared," she said softly. "But you've been so strong, for him and everyone else. I can see it."

Agastya gave her a grateful look, the corners of his mouth curving up just a little. "I don't know what I'd have done without you today," he murmured.

Aadhya took a gentle hold of Agastya's hand, pulling him up from the chair. "Come on, let's get some air," she whispered, motioning toward the door. He hesitated for a second, glancing at Hardik's resting form, but then nodded, following her out.

They stepped outside into the quiet hospital courtyard, surrounded by trees that provided a calming canopy over the path. The air was cool and fresh, and Aadhya led Agastya to a bench under the moonlight. He sat down, looking down at his hands, and she sat beside him, gathering her thoughts.

"Agastya," she began, her voice soft yet steady. He looked up, meeting her gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of confusion and hope.

"I... I didn't know how hard today would hit me, too," she said, her heart beating faster. "Seeing you so worried, I realized... I care about you so much more than I ever thought possible. And I've been too stubborn to admit it."

Agastya's eyes widened, surprise and a spark of warmth flooding his face as he processed her words. She took a shaky breath, gathering the courage to continue. "You're everything to me, Agastya. I don't want to keep pretending that it's just friendship between us because, for me... it's so much more."

He was silent for a moment, searching her face. Then, his hand reached for hers, his grip firm yet gentle, as if afraid she might disappear. "Aadhya... you don't know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that."

A soft smile broke across her face, and before she could respond, he pulled her into a tender embrace, holding her close as if letting her go would break the spell.

Aadhya pulled back slightly from the embrace, her eyes meeting Agastya's. She felt a warmth spread through her, a surge of confidence she hadn't expected. Without a second thought, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering for just a moment. The surprise in his eyes quickly shifted to a smile, and she felt herself blush deeply.

As she pulled away, she could barely look at him. "I... I should get back inside," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as a shy smile tugged at her lips. Before he could respond, she stood up and hurried back toward the hospital, her heart pounding as she entered the lobby.

She let out a quiet breath, pressing a hand to her cheek, still feeling the warmth from the kiss she'd left on his. It was only when she reached her office door that she allowed herself to smile fully, her face lighting up with a joy she hadn't felt in a long time. She had just told Agastya her feelings—and his response was everything she'd dreamed of.