love is disastrous

Double updates

The hospital corridors buzzed with an energy that felt different. Tense. Elias Matthews sat in his office, the stack of reports in front of him forgotten as his thoughts drifted. Over the past few weeks, he’d been unable to shake the growing curiosity about Arjun Patel, the young nurse who seemed to occupy the minds of nearly everyone in his family. He’d heard his siblings rave about Arjun’s warmth and his mother’s insistence that the nurse was nothing short of a saint. And yet, Elias had yet to properly interact with him beyond that chaotic meeting outside Grace’s hospital room.

Today, however, the tension in the air felt different. His assistant had briefed him about an incident involving Arjun—a mistake during a critical moment in the ICU that, though harmless in the end, had stirred up a wave of blame and gossip.

The incident had started as a routine check-up in the ICU. Arjun had been assigned to administer medication to a patient who was recovering from surgery. Everything had been going according to plan when, in the middle of the procedure, Arjun had accidentally knocked over a critical piece of medical equipment—a ventilator that was providing essential support to a patient in need of immediate attention. The ventilator had fallen to the ground with a loud crash, startling the entire team in the room. In that split second, the machinery had briefly malfunctioned, causing a minor spike in the patient’s vitals.

Although the patient was fine, and the team managed to stabilize everything within seconds, the tension in the room had been palpable. Arjun, who had been deeply focused on his task, immediately began to apologize and make amends. But his actions, though well-intentioned, were seen as a mistake by several colleagues. Rumors had spread like wildfire, some blaming Arjun for the malfunction, while others simply expressed concern about his apparent lack of experience. Despite Sophia’s and Adam’s support, and the fact that no harm had come to the patient, the gossip continued to swirl.

A knock interrupted Elias’s thoughts. Sophia Matthews stepped in without waiting for a response.

“Elias, we need to talk,” she said, her expression serious.

Elias gestured for her to sit. “I assume this is about the ICU incident.”

Sophia nodded. “Yes, and it’s ridiculous how blown out of proportion this has gotten. Arjun made a mistake—an honest one. But the patient is fine, and his quick action ultimately helped stabilize the situation. Yet, some staff are treating him like he endangered lives.”

“Why is this reaching me at all?” Elias asked, annoyance creeping into his voice.

“Because people talk,” Sophia replied bluntly. “And in a place like this, rumors grow legs. I’ve already defended him in meetings, but I think you should speak to him directly. He’s taking it hard, Elias.”

Elias frowned, her words settling heavily on him. “Fine. Send him up.”

Sophia hesitated. “Be gentle with him, Elias. He’s...fragile right now.”

---

Arjun’s stomach churned as he walked down the corridor leading to Elias’s office. He’d spent the entire day trying to ignore the whispers, the judgmental glances, and the weight of his own guilt. Sophia and Adam had reassured him multiple times that he hadn’t done anything wrong, but the voices of his critics were louder in his mind. Now, being summoned to the office of Elias Matthews, the hospital’s formidable owner, felt like stepping into a lion’s den.

When he entered, Elias was standing by the window, his hands in his pockets. The room exuded authority—dark wood, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an air of meticulous order.

“Mr. Matthews,” Arjun greeted, his voice barely steady.

“Sit,” Elias said, turning to face him. His gaze was sharp but not unkind.

Arjun obeyed, his hands fidgeting nervously in his lap.

“I’ve read the reports,” Elias began, his voice calm but firm. “Sophia and Adam both vouch for you, and the patient’s condition is stable. But you need to understand something, Arjun. In a place like this, every action matters. Every decision has weight. Mistakes, no matter how well-intentioned, can have consequences.”

“I know, sir,” Arjun replied, his throat tight. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just... I thought I was helping.”

Elias studied him for a moment, noting the tension in his posture and the way his hands trembled. “Do you believe you don’t belong here?”

The question caught Arjun off guard. “I—I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “Maybe I don’t. Everyone’s been saying it since the incident. Maybe they’re right.”

“Who’s ‘everyone’?” Elias pressed.

“The other staff,” Arjun said, his voice breaking. “They’ve been whispering, pointing fingers. I thought I was doing okay here, but now... I feel like I’m a joke.”

“Why didn’t you come to me sooner?” Elias asked, his voice softening slightly.

“I didn’t want to bother you,” Arjun replied, shaking his head. “I don’t want to be a problem.”

Before Elias could respond, Arjun’s emotions spilled over. Tears streamed down his face, and he buried his head in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he whispered through sobs. “I didn’t mean to screw up. I just... I just wanted to help.”

The raw display of vulnerability left Elias momentarily stunned. He wasn’t used to this—people opening up to him, showing their pain so openly. He’d spent years building walls around himself, maintaining a persona of unshakable strength. But something about Arjun’s breakdown pierced through his defenses.

Elias stood and walked around the desk, unsure of what he was doing but unable to stay seated. He hesitated for a moment before placing a hand on Arjun’s shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize,” he said softly.

Arjun looked up, his tear-streaked face filled with confusion and embarrassment. “I—”

Before Elias could finish his thought, Arjun did something unexpected. He stood and wrapped his arms around Elias in a tight hug. The action was instinctive, born of desperation and a need for comfort. Elias stiffened at first, his body unused to such closeness. But as he felt Arjun’s shaking frame against him, he found himself relaxing.

“It’s okay,” Elias said quietly, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “You’re not alone in this.”

Arjun’s sobs quieted, but he didn’t let go. The hug lasted longer than either of them anticipated, and when they finally pulled apart, Arjun looked mortified.

“I’m so sorry,” he stammered. “I shouldn’t have—”

Elias raised a hand, silencing him. “Don’t apologize. Just... don’t make it a habit,” he added, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Despite himself, Arjun let out a watery laugh.

---

By the time Arjun left Elias’s office, his spirits were noticeably lighter. The weight on his chest had lessened, thanks in part to Elias’s unexpected show of compassion.

As for Elias, he sat back in his chair, staring out the window as the day’s events replayed in his mind. The memory of that hug lingered, leaving him both unsettled and strangely comforted. For the first time in years, he felt a genuine connection with someone outside his family. And it terrified him.

The thing was, Elias wasn’t used to people leaning on him. He wasn’t used to being needed. But Arjun... Arjun had a way of drawing him in with his warmth, his sincerity, his vulnerability. It had caught Elias off guard in a way that left him with an unfamiliar feeling—a feeling he couldn’t quite place.

But there was something else too. Something more primal.

Elias wasn’t sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, he’d begun to feel a possessiveness toward Arjun. It wasn’t just about the fact that Arjun was a part of his mother’s life or that he’d earned his respect. It was something deeper. He didn’t want anyone else—particularly his staff—hurting Arjun. He didn’t want anyone undermining him. Elias couldn’t stand the thought of Arjun suffering again, alone and out of his depth. And yet, that was exactly what had happened today—Arjun had been victimized over something so trivial, and Elias hadn’t been there to protect him.

That feeling—protective, possessive—was foreign to Elias. He wasn’t used to letting anyone in. But Arjun had a way of doing that, of making him want to step up, to be there for him. It wasn’t just about what Arjun needed; it was about what Elias needed, too. And right now, Elias knew that he needed Arjun in a way he wasn’t prepared to admit.

This was dangerous.

And for the first time, Elias found himself caring—truly caring—about another person’s well-being in a way he hadn’t before.