Hello everybody. It's beautiful day to read a story😊. Happy reading! ☺️.

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The moment Tejasswi collapsed onto the cold hospital floor, a wave of panic swept through the corridor. 

"Tejasswi!" Karan called out, rushing toward her. His heart pounded as he reached her side, kneeling down to check on her. The others quickly gathered around, concern evident on their faces. 

Aditi was the first to react professionally. She bent down, gently tapping Tejasswi’s cheek. “Teju? Can you hear me?” But Tejasswi didn’t respond. Her breathing was shallow, and her skin was unusually pale. 

Aneri, still in her surgical gown, quickly checked Tejasswi’s pulse. “Her pulse is weak. She’s dehydrated,” she diagnosed immediately. “We need to get her to a bed now.” 

Karan didn’t wait for another second. Without hesitation, he scooped Tejasswi into his arms, ignoring everyone’s shocked gazes. His jaw clenched as he carried her towards an empty room. He could feel how light she was—far too light. Had she even been eating properly? 

"She was on call last night," Aditi muttered as she and Aneri followed closely behind. "Damn it, Tejasswi," Karan gritted his teeth. "You push yourself too much." 

Once inside the room, Karan gently placed Tejasswi onto the bed. Disha, the head nurse, swiftly hooked her up to an IV to restore her fluids. Aditi checked her vitals while Aneri prepared an injection to stabilize her condition. 

“She’s exhausted,” Aneri sighed. “No sleep, no food, and constant stress. Her body just gave out.” 

Karan stood at the bedside, his hands forming fists. He looked down at Tejasswi, watching her chest rise and fall weakly. His heart twisted at the sight. She was always so strong, always handling everything on her own. But even the strongest had their breaking point. 

Abhishek, who had been watching everything silently, took a step closer. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of worry in his eyes as he looked at his daughter. 

"She'll be fine," Aditi reassured him, sensing his unspoken concern. Karan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "She better be," he muttered under his breath. His voice was low, but the emotion behind it was undeniable. 

Now, all they could do was wait for Tejasswi to wake up.

******************************

A couple of hours passed. The room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Tejasswi lay still on the hospital bed, an IV line running into her hand, her face looking pale yet peaceful in her unconscious state. 

Karan hadn’t left her side. He sat in the chair next to her bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. His eyes never left her face. Everyone else had come and gone, checking on her, but he refused to move. 

Aditi entered the room, holding a fresh saline bag. She gave Karan a knowing look. “You’re still here?” 

Karan barely acknowledged her. “She hasn’t woken up yet.” His voice was quiet, but there was a sharp edge of concern in it. 

Aditi sighed, walking over to the IV stand and replacing the bag. “She will. Her body just needed to shut down for a while to recover.” 

Karan ran a hand over his face. “She doesn’t take care of herself.”   Then, they both heard a soft groan from the bed. 

Tejasswi’s fingers twitched slightly before her eyelids fluttered open. Her vision was blurry at first, but as she blinked, things became clearer. She saw the ceiling, the IV in her hand, and finally, her gaze landed on Karan—who was staring at her with those intense eyes. 

She tried to move, but Karan immediately leaned forward. “Don’t. Just rest.”  Tejasswi blinked, still processing everything. Her throat was dry, so she swallowed before speaking. “What… happened?” 

Aditi crossed her arms. “You tell us. You passed out in the middle of the hospital.”  Tejasswi groaned and closed her eyes for a second. “Damn it.”  Karan’s jaw tightened. “You pushed yourself too hard.”  Tejasswi sighed, then looked at him, noticing the tension in his posture. “You stayed?” 

Karan met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Obviously.” Tejasswi let out a small chuckle, but it quickly turned into a wince. “Ugh, I feel like I got hit by a truck.” Aditi smirked. “That’s because your body finally forced you to rest.” 

Tejasswi sighed, looking away. “I had surgeries… I couldn’t— By the way, how's Mrs Kundrra? ”  "Stable and her LVAD is functioning like we expected" - Aditi said. "And Mrs Mehra?" - Tejasswi asked with a little hesitant. "Stable and she woke up before you. She was asking for you." - Aditi said. Tejasswi just sighed.

Karan cut her off. “Enough, Tejasswi.” His voice was firm but held something deeper—something protective. “You’re always taking care of everyone else. Always being a doctor even when you are a patient now. Who takes care of you?” 

Tejasswi blinked at him, caught off guard by his words. Aditi, sensing the moment, decided to give them space. “I’ll be back later.” She glanced at Karan before leaving the room. Silence filled the space between them. 

Karan exhaled, leaning back in his chair. “You scared everyone, you know?”  Tejasswi sighed. “I didn’t mean to.”  Karan shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. You need to stop acting like you’re invincible.”  Tejasswi let out a small laugh. “You sound like you care, Kundrra.” 

Karan’s eyes darkened slightly. “Of course, I care.” His voice was low, serious. “More than you think.”  Tejasswi’s breath hitched for a second. There was something in his gaze that made her heart race. 

She quickly looked away. “I’ll be fine. Just need to rest.”  Karan watched her for a moment before sighing. “Yeah, you do. And I’m making sure you actually do that.” 

Tejasswi raised an eyebrow. “You’re staying?” Karan smirked slightly. “Obviously.” 

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the small smile that tugged at her lips. Maybe, just maybe, letting someone take care of her for once wasn’t so bad.

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The soft hum of lullabies played in the background as Vikram stepped into the daycare center, his eyes immediately scanning the room filled with tiny cribs and play mats. The gentle babbling of babies and the occasional giggles from toddlers filled the air. 

As he walked towards the reception area, he noticed Aditi standing there, speaking to the daycare in-charge. She was dressed in her usual professional attire, but there was a softness in her expression as she discussed something about her child. 

“Dr. Aditi, are you sure your son won’t be coming for a few weeks?” the daycare staff asked. 

Aditi nodded. “Yes, he’ll be staying with my parents for a while. I have a busy schedule coming up, and they wanted to spend some time with him.” 

Just then, Vikram approached, overhearing their conversation. “Didn’t know you had a son, Dr. Aditi.”  Aditi turned, surprised to see him. “Oh, Dr. Vikram. Yeah, I do.”  Vikram smiled. “I guess we never had time to talk about our personal lives.” 

Aditi nodded. “Guess not. What brings you here?”  “I’m here to pick up my daughter,” Vikram replied, glancing toward the baby section. His gaze softened as he spotted his little one lying in a crib, kicking her legs happily. 

Aditi followed his gaze and looked surprised. “You have a daughter?”  Vikram chuckled. “Yeah. She’s just eight months old.”  Aditi’s expression softened. “She’s adorable.” 

“Thanks,” Vikram said, then looked back at Aditi. “And your son?”  “He’s turning two this year ,” Aditi replied with a small smile. A brief silence passed between them, an unspoken understanding settling in. 

Aditi hesitated before asking, “Your wife…?” 

Vikram’s smile faltered slightly, but he nodded. “She passed away during childbirth.”  Aditi’s eyes widened slightly, and she inhaled softly. “I’m sorry.” 

Vikram shrugged lightly, though there was a shadow of pain in his eyes. “It’s been tough, but my daughter gives me a reason to keep going.”  Aditi gave him a knowing look. “I get it.”  Vikram studied her expression before asking, “Your husband?” 

Aditi exhaled and nodded. “He passed away last year in a plane crash. It’s just been me and my son since then.” 

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. The shared pain, the struggle of single parenthood, and the silent strength they had both built over the years—everything was understood in that quiet moment. 

Vikram sighed, looking down at his baby girl, who was now reaching out for him. He gently picked her up, holding her close. “It’s not easy, is it?”  Aditi smiled faintly. “No, it isn’t. But we do what we can for them.”  Vikram looked at her, as if seeing her in a new light. “Maybe we should talk more. Outside of work, I mean.” 

Aditi raised a brow. “Are you suggesting we be friends, Dr. Vikram?”  Vikram smirked. “Well, our kids might get along. And let’s be honest, we could both use a friend who understands.” 

Aditi chuckled softly. “You’re not wrong.” 

Just then, his baby girl let out a tiny yawn, snuggling against his chest. Aditi watched the scene, something warm stirring inside her.  Vikram adjusted his daughter in his arms and looked at Aditi. “See you at the tomorrow?” 

Aditi smiled. “See you, Dr. Vikram.” 

As she walked out of the daycare, she realized that maybe, just maybe, life was giving her a small chance to heal—even if it was just through an unexpected friendship.

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Tejasswi stirred awake, her body still heavy with exhaustion. The dim hospital room was silent, and as she turned her head slightly, she realized she was alone. A sigh escaped her lips. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but some part of her had hoped Karan would still be there. 

Shaking off the thought, she attempted to sit up. Just as she was about to swing her legs off the bed, the door creaked open. 

"Trying to run away already?" 

She looked up to see Vikram standing there, a smirk playing on his lips. But what caught her attention wasn’t just his presence—it was the tiny bundle in his arms. 

Her eyes lit up in recognition. "Is that…?" 

“Meet Akshaya,” Vikram said, stepping closer. “I thought since you never got the chance to meet her, now would be a good time.” 

Tejasswi’s exhaustion melted away as she reached out for the little girl. The moment she held her, a wave of warmth spread through her chest. "She’s beautiful," she murmured, gently cradling the baby. Akshaya let out a small gurgle, her tiny fingers wrapping around Tejasswi’s. 

“She likes you,” Vikram noted, settling into the chair beside the bed. Tejasswi chuckled softly, her fingers playing with Akshaya’s tiny hand. “Well, I like her too. She’s got your eyes.”  Vikram huffed. “That’s what everyone says.” 

Tejasswi looked up at him, studying his face. “You’re doing okay, right?”  Vikram let out a small sigh, nodding. “It’s not easy, but I manage. Akshaya gives me a reason to keep going.”  She smiled softly, rocking the baby slightly in her arms. “She’s lucky to have you.” 

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, until Vikram turned his gaze to her. “And what about you?” Tejasswi frowned slightly. “What about me?” 

Vikram leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “You always carry yourself like nothing can break you. But I see it, Tejasswi. There’s something there—something heavy. You never talk about your past.” 

She stiffened, her fingers tightening slightly around Akshaya’s tiny ones. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”  “Of course, it does,” Vikram countered. “It made you who you are.” 

She hesitated. For years, she had kept her past locked away, refusing to let anyone in, well maybe Harsh, Aneri and Aditi knew about it. But something about Vikram—the way he spoke, the way he had endured his own loss—made her feel like, maybe, just maybe, it was okay to finally let it out. 

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke. “I had a brother. Ravish.”  Vikram remained silent, his expression encouraging her to continue. 

“When I was little, my parents were always working. My mother, Pragya, was a surgeon. My father, Abhishek, a businessman. They were good at what they did… but they weren’t really there.” Her voice wavered slightly. “I spent most of my time with my maid. She was kind. She took care of me when my parents were too busy.” 

She glanced down at Akshaya, stroking her tiny fingers before continuing. “When I was six, Ravish was born. For the first time, I felt like I had someone of my own. I wasn’t alone anymore.” 

Vikram nodded, listening intently. 

“Everything was fine… until one day, when I was thirteen and Ravish was seven. We came home early from school because of a fire drill.” She swallowed hard, gripping the blanket beneath her. “We couldn’t find our maid at first. But then… we heard noises upstairs.” 

Vikram’s jaw tensed, already sensing where this was going. 

“We found my father,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “Naked. With our maid.” 

A muscle ticked in Vikram’s jaw, but he let her continue. 

“I didn’t even have time to process it. I just… I covered Ravish’s eyes and ran downstairs with him. That’s when my mother walked in.” Tejasswi let out a humorless laugh. “She didn’t understand why we looked so terrified—until she went upstairs herself.” 

Vikram exhaled sharply. 

“She broke that day. Threw him out. Threw her out.” Tejasswi blinked rapidly, pushing away the sting of old tears. “Days passed. My father tried to apologize, but my mother completely shut him out. And then…” she let out a slow breath, “one night, I came home late from tuition. I found my mother—drunk. And her colleague, Virat, carrying her to the bedroom.” 

Vikram’s eyes darkened. 

“I knew what she was doing. Whether it was revenge or just her way of moving on, I don’t know. But it disgusted me.” Tejasswi clenched her fists. “My parents were about to get divorced. But then, out of nowhere, they decided to stay together—claiming it was ‘for us.” She scoffed. “As if they hadn’t already broken our family beyond repair.” 

Vikram remained silent, but his gaze was filled with unspoken understanding. 

Tejasswi inhaled deeply before continuing. “Then came the worst part. When I was sixteen and Ravish was ten, he started complaining about headaches. Bad ones. My parents—both so busy—just told him to take Panadol and sleep. Every time.” 

Vikram’s fists clenched. 

“I was the one who took him to the hospital. Alone.” Her voice shook now. “They ran tests. And then… they told me.” She paused, struggling to get the words out. “Stage four brain tumor. Inoperable as it0 was too late.” 

Vikram shut his eyes for a second. 

“If they had just listened earlier,” Tejasswi whispered, her voice filled with quiet agony, “we could have saved him.” 

A tear finally slipped down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. “I stayed with him till the end. And when he was gone… so was my last reason to care about them.” 

She sucked in a shaky breath. “I left. I got into med school on a scholarship, never asked them for a single cent. Ignored every message, every call. I worked my ass off, got my degree, and saved up enough to rent a tiny apartment. I built my life without them.” 

Her voice steadied. “This hospital became my home. It gave me Aneri. Aditi. Harsh. And now… it gave me you.” She glanced at Akshaya. “And her.” 

Vikram finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. “You didn’t just survive, Tejasswi. You fought. And you won.” 

She looked at him, searching his eyes. 

“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” he added. “And no matter what, you’re not alone anymore.”  A lump formed in her throat, but she managed a small smile. “Thank you, Vikram.” 

“For what?” 

“For listening.” 

Vikram gave a small, knowing smile. “Anytime, chief.” 

Tejasswi let out a light chuckle before looking down at Akshaya. The baby was fast asleep in her arms. She stroked her tiny cheek, feeling something she hadn’t felt in a long time—peace. 

For the first time in years, she felt like she had truly let go.

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Karan stood frozen just outside the hospital room, his back pressed against the wall. He hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but the moment he heard Tejasswi’s voice—soft yet filled with pain—he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. 

Each word cut through him like a blade. 

Her childhood. The loneliness. The betrayal. 

Her parents, who were too consumed by their own mistakes to see the damage they had inflicted on their children. 

Her little brother, Ravish. 

The pain in her voice when she spoke about him made Karan’s chest tighten. The guilt she carried, the burden of being the only one who truly cared enough to fight for him—it was unbearable to hear. 

And then, the way she talked about shutting out her parents, struggling alone, working herself to exhaustion just to prove she didn’t need them… 

Karan clenched his fists. 

How could someone go through so much and still stand as strong as she did? 

He had always seen Tejasswi as fierce, independent, and stubborn—but now, he understood why. She had no one to rely on. She had learned to build herself up from nothing. 

She had fought battles no one should have to fight alone. 

And yet, she still carried so much love within her. 

She loved her brother. She loved her friends. She had so much warmth in her heart despite everything life had taken from her. 

Karan exhaled shakily, running a hand through his hair. He wanted to storm into that room, pull her into his arms, and tell her that she wasn’t alone anymore. 

That she would never be alone again. 

But he didn’t. 

Not yet. 

She had just opened up a wound she had buried for years. Right now, she needed space. But one thing was certain— 

He would never let her suffer alone again. 

Not anymore.

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After so long and a longggg part. Hehe. Hope I didn't bore you guys. Thanks for reading 😊❤️.