82. Dr. Mahira

3000 words!!

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Days passed, and slowly everyone began to find their way back to a semblance of normalcy. The boys returned to work, while Ananya and Amrita continued their leave.

Rishi and Mahima grew closer with each passing day, their daily meetings turning into something deeper.

It was clear that Rishi was falling hard for her.

Meanwhile, Aarush faced a different challenge—one that had him on the brink of insanity.

It had been a week since Rudraksh had told him to bring Dr. Mahira, and in that time, he'd managed to discover one thing: she was nearly impossible to contact.

He tried the usual routes. Asking the receptionist had been a bust.

The stern woman informed him that hospital policy, approved by the president, strictly prohibited sharing Dr. Mahira’s contact details.

Undeterred, Aarush had tried more creative methods—bribery, charm, and even hacking into the hospital system.

None of it worked. Dr. Mahira remained as elusive as ever.

Finally, sitting in his car outside the hospital, Aarush decided to swallow his pride and call Rudraksh for advice.

The phone barely rang twice before Rudraksh picked up. “What is it?”

Aarush sighed, leaning his head back against the seat. “Bhai, it’s been a week. I’ve tried everything to get Dr. Mahira’s number—sweet-talking the receptionist, hacking the hospital system, I even pretended to be a health inspector one day! Nothing worked!”

Rudraksh was silent for a moment, clearly trying to process Aarush's antics. “Wait... you’ve been doing this for a week?”

“Entire. Week.” Aarush dragged out the words with a dramatic flair.

A loud slap echoed through the phone as Rudraksh facepalmed. “Have you considered—oh, I don’t know—going to her cabin?”

“I did! But the receptionist said Dr. Mahira doesn’t meet male patients!” Aarush whined.

Rudraksh’s disbelief was almost tangible. “You’ve been sitting outside the hospital for a week, trying to get her number, when you could’ve just walked in and asked for her?”

Aarush blinked. “Uh... well, when you put it that way—”

“God, Aarush. I’m starting to think I’m a genius just by comparison,” Rudraksh grumbled.

“You are a genius, bhai! Why didn’t I think of meeting her?” Aarush exclaimed, nodding vigorously.

Rudraksh sighed heavily. “Aarush, you’re either the dumbest smart person I know or the smartest dumb person. I haven’t decided yet.”

Before Aarush could defend his honor, Rudraksh hung up, leaving him with nothing but his wounded pride and newfound determination.

“Alright,” Aarush muttered, stepping out of his car, straightening his jacket, and marching toward the hospital entrance. “Let’s do this.”

Aarush strode into the hospital, exuding confidence with every step.

His perfectly tailored suit complemented his broad shoulders, and his sharp features—chiseled jawline, intense dark eyes, and effortlessly tousled hair—made heads turn.

Every woman in the vicinity stole a glance, some whispering, some outright staring, but he was too focused on his mission to notice.

In his rush, he collided with someone. The impact sent a bundle of files flying into the air as the girl stumbled backward, losing her balance.

On instinct, Aarush reached out, his fingers wrapping around her wrist just in time.

Her other hand pressed against the cold floor to keep herself from fully falling, her chest rising and falling from the suddenness of the moment.

For a second, everything else blurred.

His gaze locked onto her, and he found himself momentarily breathless.

She was stunning.

Her brown eyes shimmered under the hospital’s fluorescent lights, deep pools of warmth with flecks of gold that caught the light in a mesmerizing way.

Long lashes framed them, making her gaze appear even more innocent, almost doll-like.

Her soft pink lips were slightly parted in surprise, her delicate features painted with confusion and curiosity.

Strands of her blackish-brown hair had fallen over her forehead, escaping from her neatly tied ponytail.

Aarush felt his heartbeat falter.

He had seen beautiful women before, but there was something different about her. Maybe it was the way her beauty was so effortless, or the way her presence felt... pure.

She, too, was staring at him, seemingly lost for a moment, until she blinked and softly spoke, “Can you lift me up?”

Aarush was still entranced, his mind lingering on how sweet and delicate her voice sounded. Innocent. Childish. Like a melody meant to be cherished.

She frowned slightly at his lack of response. “Excuse me, can you lift me up?”

Aarush, still dazed, murmured, “What? Can you repeat that?”

She narrowed her eyes slightly, now a mix of confusion and amusement, before repeating with a slight huff, “Can you lift me up?”

A lazy, amused smirk tugged at the corner of Aarush’s lips before he finally snapped out of his trance.

He gently pulled her up, watching as she quickly straightened herself and brushed the dust off her white coat.

He continued staring as she adjusted her hair with one hand, her movements graceful yet unbothered.

“Excuse me?”

Aarush blinked. “Hmm?”

She arched an eyebrow and subtly gestured toward her wrist—where his fingers were still wrapped around her.

His eyes darted down, and realizing his mistake, he let go immediately, a sheepish, almost boyish smile playing on his lips.

Before he could say anything else, the receptionist rushed over, eyes filled with concern.

“Dr. Mahira! Are you alright?”

Aarush froze.

Dr. Mahira?

He blinked in disbelief, his head snapping toward the girl he had just been shamelessly admiring.

She was Dr. Mahira? The same elusive doctor he had been trying to track down for an entire week?

His lips parted slightly in surprise before curving into a slow, amused smile.

Her name is just as unique as she is.

As Mahira bent down to collect the scattered papers, Aarush instinctively followed suit, helping her gather them.

His fingers brushed against hers slightly as they reached for the same paper, and for the first time in a long time, Aarush felt something foreign stir inside him—something unexplainable, something intriguing.

And for the first time in a week, he wasn’t just searching for Dr. Mahira.

He was captivated by her.

Mahira stood up, adjusting the files in her arms as she offered Aarush a polite nod. “Thank you,” she said, her voice calm and professional.

Before Aarush could respond, the receptionist huffed, arms crossed. “Doctor! This is the man who has been trying to get to you for a whole week! He’s been troubling the staff a lot.”

Aarush blinked, feigning innocence as he shot the woman a charming smile, but she wasn’t having it.

“It’s okay, Daisy! I’ll take care of it now,” Mahira said, her voice firm yet composed.

The receptionist hesitated, but after one final glare at Aarush, she turned on her heels and left.

Aarush exhaled dramatically, running a hand through his hair before flashing Mahira a sheepish grin. “You have quite a protective staff.”

Mahira simply raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “They’re just doing their job.”

He chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “So, you’re the Dr. Mahira who’s impossible to meet.” His voice carried amusement, but his sharp gaze studied her carefully.

Mahira tilted her head slightly, intrigued but guarded. “And why exactly did you want to meet me?”

Aarush leaned in slightly, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “Well, you see… Rudraksh wanted me to bring you to Raghuwanshi Palace.”

Mahira’s eyes lit up with surprise and relief. “Oh, thank God! Rudraksh sir finally sent someone! I was actually trying to find a way to go there myself.” She smiled, a pure, unguarded smile that reached her eyes.

And oh, that smile…

Aarush felt his heart skip a beat.

It wasn’t just a smile—it was warmth wrapped in innocence, a rare mix of elegance and mischief.

The way her lips curved so effortlessly, the small dimple that appeared on her left cheek, the slight crinkle at the corner of her bright, expressive eyes—it was enough to make his mind blank for a second.

His breath hitched as a strange, unfamiliar warmth settled in his chest.

For the first time in a long while, Aarush felt something shift inside him. Something dangerously close to weakness.

He blinked, forcing himself to snap out of it, but his lips still twitched upward as he muttered under his breath, “I think I might be in trouble…”

“Huh?” Mahira blinked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

Aarush quickly shook his head. “Nothing,” he said, brushing it off with a small smile.

She eyed him curiously for a second before nodding. “Let’s go?”

Aarush nodded and led her to his car. As they drove toward Raghuwanshi Palace, he glanced at her and asked, “So, is the hospital chief and the president in love with you or something? Is that why they made it impossible for me to meet you?”

Mahira simply smiled, not saying a word.

Aarush raised an eyebrow, taking her silence as confirmation. “Ah, I see…” he muttered under his breath.

He had just been joking, but now—now, he wasn’t so sure. "Great. As if I needed more reasons to hate those people." He muttered

The thought made him clench the steering wheel a little tighter.

Who wouldn’t fall for her? She was effortlessly stunning, a goddess in human form.

But the sudden surge of jealousy that shot through him was unexpected, and he found himself hating these two unknown men more than he should.

Shaking the thought away, he focused on driving.

Soon, they arrived at Raghuwanshi Palace. Aarush parked the car, stepped out, and opened the door for Mahira.

As she entered the grand home, the chatter inside came to a sudden halt.

Ishika, who had been sitting on the couch with Geeta, Rukmini, and Divya, spotted her first. Her eyes widened in shock before a bright, childlike excitement took over.

“Mahira!” she squealed, jumping up and sprinting toward her.

Ishika pulled Mahira into a warm hug, squeezing her tightly. Mahira’s smile widened, and Aarush, standing nearby, just stared at her, completely lost in his thoughts.

He had never seen someone smile so effortlessly, and somehow, it was making his heart race.

Pulling back from the hug, Ishika turned to the others with a bright smile. “Everyone, this is Dr. Mahira. She’s the one I told you about,” she introduced, motioning toward Mahira.

Geeta, Rukmini, and Divya all smiled, welcoming her warmly. “It’s nice to finally meet you,” Geeta said.

Mahira nodded politely. “The pleasure is mine ma'am.”

Before the conversation could continue, Amrita, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke in her usual neutral tone, “I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

Ananya, who was seated beside her, immediately nodded. “Yeah, me too. It’s not just that… It feels like we’ve known you for years.”

Mahira blinked, a bit taken aback. “Oh, maybe because I was Divya ma’am’s Doctor?” she offered with a small smile.

But Ananya shook her head. “No, it’s not that. It’s more than that…”

Amrita, Divya, and Ishika exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.

There was something strangely familiar about Mahira, something they couldn’t quite put their fingers on.

Sensing the conversation taking a turn she wasn’t ready for, Mahira quickly diverted, “Maybe I should check Ishika ma’am now.”

Ishika, still smiling, nodded. “Of course. Let’s go.”

With that, the two of them headed to a room, leaving the others behind, still wondering about that odd sense of familiarity.

Aarush, however, remained where he was, still swooning over Mahira like a love-struck fool.

In the room, Mahira carefully examined Ishika’s wounds, her fingers light as she checked for any remaining signs of injury. After a moment, she stepped back with a satisfied nod.

“Well, Ishika ma’am, your wounds are completely gone now. I can barely even see them,” Mahira said with a smile. “Looks like someone took really good care of you.”

Ishika’s lips curled into a soft, almost shy smile as her mind drifted to Rudraksh.

She could still remember the way he had gently applied ointment to her wounds every day, his usually rough hands turning impossibly gentle as if she were made of glass.

He never let her skip her medicines, making sure she took them on time like a strict guardian.

And the way he had checked the water temperature for her before every bath—she could never forget that.

It was as if he thought she was a newborn baby, needing every bit of his attention and care.

Mahira watched as Ishika’s expression softened, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Must have been someone special,” she teased lightly.

Ishika quickly snapped out of her thoughts, shaking her head with a chuckle. “Just someone who thinks too much,” she said, but the warmth in her tone gave her away.

Mahira didn’t push further, but her smile lingered. “Well, whoever it was, they did a perfect job.”

Ishika simply hummed in agreement, her heart feeling a little too full at the moment.

Outside, Aarush dramatically fell onto the couch, sighing as if he had just run a marathon. Rishi, who had just entered, raised an eyebrow.

“What happened to this guy?” he asked, glancing at everyone.

The others just shrugged.

“Well, whatever it is, I don’t care,” Rishi said, shaking his head. “Right now, I need help.”

Just then, Mahira and Ishika came out of the room. Rishi turned to Mahira curiously. “And who is she?”

Ishika smiled. “This is Dr. Mahira.”

Rishi narrowed his eyes. “Wait… I feel like I’ve seen her before.”

Right on cue, Amrita, Ananya, Ishika, and Divya all said, “Right?” in unison.

Mahira smiled shyly at their insistence but quickly brushed it off.

“What help did you need, bhaiya?” Ananya asked, bringing the conversation back on track.

“Oh, right!” Rishi ran a hand through his hair before sitting down. Ishika also took a seat beside him.

“Well… it’s her birthday today.”

Aarush frowned in confusion. “Whose?”

“Mahima’s!” the girls chorused together, making Geeta and Rukmini chuckle.

Rishi rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yeah… and I don’t know what to do for her.”

Immediately, everyone started throwing out suggestions.

Ananya was the first to speak. “Jewelry! A beautiful pendant or a bracelet. Something she can wear every day and think of you.”

Amrita smirked. “That’s so basic. Get her a designer dress. Girls love fashion, and Mahima would look stunning in something custom-made.”

Aarush, still sprawled on the couch, raised a lazy hand. “What about a fancy candlelit dinner? You know, old-school romance—roses, slow music, eye contact across the table…” He wiggled his eyebrows dramatically.

Rishi frowned. “She doesn’t really care about fancy things like that…”

Mahira, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Then do something more meaningful. Instead of one gift, why not gift her a mix of everything? And maybe take her to the mountains.”

Everyone paused for a moment, letting her words sink in.

“That’s… actually an amazing idea,” Ishika said, impressed.

Rishi’s eyes lit up. “That… actually sounds perfect.” He smiled at Mahira. “You’re good at this.”

Mahira smiled shyly. “My mom liked mountains too so I thought she would like them too.”

Ananya grinned. “That’s perfect! Mahi actually liked mountains!”

Rishi exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think Mahima would love this. Thank you, Mahira.”

Mahira smiled. “I hope she does.”

Aarush dramatically wiped an imaginary tear. “Such wisdom… such beauty… such—”

Ishika smacked his arm, making everyone laugh. Meanwhile, Rishi’s heart was set—he was going to make Mahima’s birthday unforgettable, just like Mahira had said.

Mahira smiled softly. "I should leave now."

Aarush immediately stood up. "I’ll drop you at the hospital."

Mahira shook her head. "I’m not going to the hospital."

Aarush's face lit up. "Oh! Then are you going home? Great! I’ll gladly drop you there!"

Mahira narrowed her eyes at him, a suspicious smile tugging at her lips. "No… I’m not going home either."

Aarush, unfazed, grinned. "Then wherever you’re going, I’ll drop you there!"

Mahira sighed. "I can go by myself, Sir."

His expression instantly fell into a frown. He crossed his arms, tilting his head. "Ah… I see. So, the president or the chief must be picking you up, huh?"

Mahira arched an eyebrow at his words, while behind them, everyone was enjoying the conversation like an entertaining drama.

Aarush groaned and flopped back onto the couch dramatically. "Ugh, this is unfair!"

Mahira stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Considering her past, the identity she had always kept guarded, and the weight of what she was about to reveal, she took a deep breath. Then, with quiet determination, she stepped forward.

Standing in front of Aarush, she spoke, her voice steady but carrying a hint of hesitation. "Hello," she said, "I am the president, the chief, and the owner of M Care Hospitals."

Silence fell over the room.

Aarush blinked. Once. Twice. His lips parted in shock, but no words came out.

Around them, the others stared, equally stunned.

Silence filled the room as Mahira’s words settled in.

Ishika blinked rapidly. "Wait… what?"

Ananya’s jaw dropped. "You—you own M Care Hospitals?"

Amrita crossed her arms, still processing. "And you’re the president and the chief too?"

Divya exhaled in disbelief. "That’s… a lot of power for one person."

Geeta shook her head. "No wonder they didn’t let anyone meet you!"

Rukmini placed a hand on her forehead. "I can’t believe we’ve been casually talking to the President this whole time."

Rishi finally found his voice. "You’re telling me that the person Aarush has been desperately trying to meet for a week was the chief herself?"

Aarush was still sitting on the couch, mouth slightly open, eyes wide.

He looked at Mahira, then at the others, then back at Mahira. His brain refused to function.

Meanwhile, the entire room had turned into a reaction-filled discussion.

Aarush suddenly snapped out of it, shaking his head. "I don’t care what your titles are. I’m still dropping you off."

Everyone burst into laughter, shaking their heads at his persistence.

Mahira sighed but finally smiled. "Fine, take me to the temple."

Aarush frowned. "Huh? The temple?"

Mahira nodded. "That’s where I need to go."

He gave her a puzzled look but stood up nonetheless. "Alright then, let’s go."

As they walked out, the others exchanged amused glances, still unable to believe what just happened.

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New lovestruck guy alert!! 🤭

The moment their eyes met, he knew he was done for.💘