Sick, Stubborn, and Wrapped in His Care
RIVAL HEARTS
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It was 4:45 PM, and Dhruvin was already on the terrace, which was a bit too early for someone like him. He was used to staying up late, not to waiting around in the middle of the afternoon. But here he was, shifting his bag and adjusting his clothes for the fifth time, trying to look presentable. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Itâs just a project meeting, not a date."
The sun was starting to set, casting a soft orange glow across the city. Dhruvin kept checking his watch every few minutes, but no sign of Aashna.
5:00 PM.
5:10 PM.
5:30 PM.
Still nothing.
A small flicker of disappointment crossed his face. Maybe she bailed on him. The thought stung a little more than he expected. He was already about to leave when he heard a soft shuffle of footsteps from the stairwell.
He stopped in his tracks and looked toward the stairs, hoping it was her. But when he saw the figure slumped on the steps, his heart skipped a beat. Aashna.
She was sitting on the stairs with her head bowed, her posture slumped in exhaustion. For a moment, Dhruvin wasnât sure if she was just tired or if something else was wrong. He quickly walked over, his heartbeat picking up as panic set in.
"Aashna," he called gently, tapping her shoulder. "Hey, wake up."
But she didnât stir. Her head slid from the step and rested against his shoulder. Dhruvin froze, feeling an odd rush of warmth and nervousness flood through him. This was not how he imagined things going, but here she was, curled up against him.
His chest tightened. "Aashna, come on," he whispered, trying to wake her. "You need to drink something."
Still no response. He quickly pulled his water bottle out of his bag and gently helped her drink some. "Aashna, please, wake up," he said, panic rising in his voice. Then, before he could stop himself, a soft, almost desperate word slipped from his lips. "Baby, please wake up. Youâre scaring me."
He blinked, realizing what heâd just said, his face turning slightly red. But there was no time to dwell on it. He focused back on her. Her skin was burning with fever, and his worry deepened.
Without a second thought, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. The jacket was large enough to cover most of her, but he didnât care. He just wanted to make sure she was comfortable and warm. As he did, he couldnât help but feel a strange mix of concern and closenessâthis wasnât how he expected their first real interaction to go, but there was something about it that felt... right.
A few minutes passed, and Aashna stirred, slowly opening her eyes. For a moment, she didnât seem to register what was happening. But when she noticed her head on his shoulder and his hand on her lower back, she jolted upright with a glare.
"Dhruvin, what the hell?" she exclaimed, her voice sharp. "Why are you so close?"
Dhruvin winced from the sudden movement but tried to explain, his voice laced with concern. "I didnât do anything, Aashna. You collapsed. I just... I just wanted to make sure youâre okay."
She frowned, still not convinced. "You shouldâve called someone, not... not this." Her eyes were tired but filled with irritation.
"Iâm not going to leave you here alone like this," Dhruvin said, his tone soft but firm. "Youâre sick, and you need to eat something."
Aashna opened her mouth to argue but was cut off. "No more arguments," he insisted, offering her a hand. "Come on, weâre going to the canteen. You need to rest and eat."
She rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated. "I donât need you playing the hero, Dhruvin."
Dhruvin smirked, walking with her as she reluctantly followed. "Tujhe joh samajna hai samaj , Aashna. Aaj toh hero banna zaroori hai." (You can say whatever you want, Aashna, but today Iâve got to be the hero.)
Aashna groaned but couldnât help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. Despite the frustration, there was something oddly comforting about his insistence.
The moment felt strangeâlike the start of something new.
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Authorâs Note
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