chapter 17

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Arjun Patel sat by the window of his tiny apartment, the city lights painting faint patterns on his hands. He had always loved how New York seemed to buzz with a million stories, yet tonight, his mind was a world away, back in India. His memories of home were bittersweet—a tapestry woven with threads of longing, love, and a perpetual thirst for validation.

As the only child of his parents, Arjun had always been under their watchful eyes. His mother, Radhika, was a stern, disciplined woman who believed in perfection above all else. For as long as he could remember, Arjun had been trying to earn her approval. Whether it was his grades, his behavior, or even the way he carried himself at family gatherings, her sharp gaze was always on him.

"Sit straight, Arjun," she'd say.

"Don't embarrass us."

"Why can't you be better at this?"

Her words had been needles, small but sharp, pricking his confidence. Yet, in his youthful innocence, he had yearned for her smile, her rare nod of approval.

His father, Sameer Patel, had been the opposite. Quiet and gentle, Sameer had been Arjun’s anchor in the storm. While his mother demanded, his father listened. When Radhika’s words cut too deep, Sameer would pull Arjun aside and whisper, “You’re enough, beta. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.”

But despite his father’s reassurances, Arjun couldn’t stop seeking his mother’s approval. It was why he chose nursing as a career, following her suggestion that he should pursue something “practical and respectable.” It was why he studied late into the night, even when he was exhausted. It was why he left India, chasing the dream of a better future she had set out for him.

Yet, the approval never came.

-

The Present

Arjun sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t stop thinking about Elias. The man was a puzzle Arjun couldn’t piece together. Elias’s presence was magnetic, commanding attention without trying, but it was the way Elias looked at him that unraveled Arjun.

Elias’s gaze wasn’t sharp like his mother’s; it was intense, as though Arjun was the only thing in the room worth focusing on. And that focus—the way Elias seemed to pour all his attention into him—was intoxicating. For someone who had spent a lifetime chasing validation, Elias’s unrelenting attention was both terrifying and addictive.

Arjun’s phone buzzed, shaking him out of his thoughts. It was his father. He smiled and picked up, leaning back against the couch.

“Papa,” he said warmly.

“Beta, how are you?” his father’s soothing voice asked.

“I’m good, Papa,” Arjun replied, though his voice lacked conviction.

There was a pause on the other end. “You don’t sound good.”

Arjun hesitated. “It’s just… work has been overwhelming. And… there’s this person…”

Sameer chuckled softly. “A person? A good person, I hope.”

“Good, yes,” Arjun said, his voice dropping. “But also… intense. And confusing.”

“Ah, matters of the heart,” Sameer said knowingly. “Beta, let me tell you something. Your entire life, you’ve tried to live up to expectations—your mother’s, society’s, even your own. But love isn’t about expectations. It’s about freedom. If this person makes you feel seen, really seen, maybe it’s time you stop running away from that.”

Arjun swallowed hard. “But what if it’s not right?”

“Right is what feels right to you,” Sameer said gently. “I know your mother has always been hard on you, but you’ve never needed anyone’s approval to be loved. You deserve happiness, beta. Don’t let fear stop you from reaching for it.”

Tears stung Arjun’s eyes. “Thanks, Papa. I needed that.”

“Always here for you,” Sameer said. “Now go figure out your heart, huh?”

---

Later That Night

Arjun lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His father’s words echoed in his mind. You deserve happiness.

And then there was Elias—his commanding presence, his unwavering focus, the way his voice softened just slightly when he said Arjun’s name.

Arjun’s feelings had begun as confusion. He hadn’t understood why Elias’s attention affected him so deeply. But now, lying here in the quiet of his room, the truth began to surface. Elias made him feel special, like he was enough, just as he was.

Arjun thought back to every interaction they’d shared—the teasing, the protective glances, the way Elias had defended him after the oxygen tank incident. It was so unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

A tear slipped down his cheek. For the first time, he wasn’t chasing someone’s approval. Elias gave it freely, without hesitation. And Arjun? He couldn’t help but fall for it.

The next day, Arjun found himself stealing glances at Elias during their encounters at work. Elias was as composed as ever, discussing hospital matters with his usual air of authority. But every time his eyes landed on Arjun, there was something different—a flicker of warmth that sent a shiver down Arjun’s spine.

Elias’s attention was like a spotlight, and Arjun, despite himself, craved it.

Arjun couldn’t help but remember what his father had said. Maybe it was time to stop running, to let himself feel.

But then, the doubt crept in. What if he wasn’t enough for someone like Elias? What if this was all just a fleeting infatuation for the other man?

Arjun shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away.

It was late in the evening when Arjun found himself walking to the rooftop of the hospital, a place he often went to clear his mind. The cold breeze bit at his skin, but he didn’t care.

As he looked out at the sprawling city below, he thought about Elias again—his intensity, his protectiveness, the way he made Arjun feel safe.

And then it hit him.

Elias wasn’t just someone who paid attention to him. He was someone who saw him, flaws and all, and still thought he was worth it.

For the first time in his life, Arjun allowed himself to believe he might deserve that kind of love.

And with that realization, the weight of years of seeking approval began to lift, piece by piece.

At the Matthews Mansion

That weekend, when Arjun arrived at the Matthews home for Grace’s weekly check-up, he was greeted with her usual warmth.

“Ah, my favorite nurse is here!” she exclaimed.

But as Arjun entered, his eyes instinctively sought out Elias. Their gazes met across the room, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away.

Elias smiled—soft, inviting—and Arjun felt his heart skip a beat.

Perhaps, just perhaps, he was ready to take the leap.