Chapter 30

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(A WEEK LATER)

As Pihu drove, she hummed along to the music playing in the background. Her phone suddenly beeped with an incoming message, and she glanced at the screen with a sigh. Deciding not to respond, she continued driving.

However, her phone started buzzing again, and this time, she answered the call, putting it on speaker.

"Pihu, where are you?" a voice asked, sounding slightly impatient.

"Mru, this is your tenth call and a hundredth message asking where I am," Pihu replied with a hint of amusement.

"Because I don't like waiting," Mrunali whined.

"You're literally at home, and I'm driving a car, not using Doraemon's anywhere door," Pihu said with a chuckle. "I won't magically appear in front of you."

"Still, come fast," she ordered.

"Wait a minute, I'm near your house," Pihu said, before cutting off the call to avoid another round of complaints.

Pihu sighed and cursed Aahan for the hundredth time today for dragging her into his mess.

After Avan's death, Mr Agnihotri allowed them to continue their job from now on. For the past week, everyone has spent time with their family before they return to their "bond-repairing house"...

So now Pihu is going to pick Mrunali so they both can go to the hospital, but the problem is that Mrunali is acting like a stubborn brat.

The credit goes to Aahan Agnihotri.

Aahan promised Mrunali that he would pick her up from Wagh Mansion today. But the event turned out, and Aahan left early because of some sudden urgent VIP meeting.

One thing about Mrunali is that she is the most possessive and sensitive person towards promises.

Normally, Mrunali was a kind and gentle soul, but when she felt left out or neglected, she transformed into a stubborn and moody

So now, the responsibility fell on Pihu to pick up this left-out sulking puppy.

With a resigned smile, Pihu pulled up to the Wagh Mansion, ready to face the challenge ahead and soothe Mrunali's wounded feelings.

Pihu stopped the car in front of Wagh Mansion, and a pouty Mrunali settled herself into the passenger seat. Pihu glanced at her and began singing in a playful tone, "I could be a better boyfriend than him..."

Mrunali's scowl deepened, and she huffed, "Shut up, Pihu!"

Pihu chuckled at her friend's grumpy demeanour. "Don't be moody in the morning, Mru. It's not like your man left you intentionally."

Mrunali crossed her arms over her chest, her expression unyielding. "He is not my man."

Pihu raised an eyebrow, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Sure, whatever helps you sleep tonight."

Mrunali's eyes narrowed, but before she could retort, Pihu asked, "By the way, I saw Shivay at the Agnihotri Mansion earlier, picking up Janvi for the hospital. Didn't Aahan and him have the same meeting today? Why didn't Aahan also pick you up early?"

Mrunali's pout returned, and she muttered under her breath, "I don't know... He just left without saying anything. And that adopted human also didn't bother to wake me."

Pihu's expression turned thoughtful, and she frowned. "Despite my dislike for YOUR...MAN, I don't think Aahan is irresponsible. Are you sure he didn't inform you about the change in plans?"

Mrunali let out a nervous laugh, "Actually, he called me in the morning, but I was in deep slumber and didn't hear. So he dropped a message that you're gonna pick me."

'That makes sense', Pihu mumbled to herself.

However, Mrunali's sulky demeanour returned, and she said, "Still, he should've called me a few more times. Maybe I would've heard it then."

Pihu raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "I doubt it."

Her response earned her a glare from Mrunali. Quickly, Pihu backpedaled, "You're right, though. He should've put in more effort for your...little date."

Mrunali's eyes flashed, and she retorted, "It wasn't a date."

Pihu shrugged her shoulders, a mischievous glint in her eye. "If you say so."

After that, for ten minutes, Mrunali rambles about how she hates Aahan, and how she will not talk to him again. And more and more.

Pihu silently listens to everything, focusing on the road.

She turned to Pihu with a questioning gaze. "By the way, how did you agree to pick me up?" she asked, her tone still tinged with a hint of irritation.

"He ordered me to pick you." Pihu's eyes never left the road, her attention divided between driving and the conversation.

Mrunali's eyes narrowed, "And you agreed?"

"Of course not, but that mute bastard threatened me."

"How?"

"He said pick my sulking puppy, or I will send your embarrassing pictures to Naksh. So now there is no debate about whom I will choose." Pihu tells her.

Mrunali ignores the remark 'my sulking puppy'...

"So you choose me. But what if he still sends those pictures to Naksh?" Mrunali nodded.

"Then we need to prepare for his funeral instead of going hospital." She gave a sweet smile to Mrunali, who cringed at it.

"Did Naksh also leave early?"

"No... He is at home."

"Is not he the Director of the hospital? How come he didn't need to attend the meeting?" Mrunali asked.

Pihu let out a soft sigh, her eyes still fixed on the road ahead. "You're already aware that we're supposed to head to 'Aash Mansion' today. Naksh was initially opposed to the idea because of Mummy Ji, but he couldn't override Papa Ji's decision."

Pihu's voice was matter-of-fact, but a hint of understanding crept into her tone. "Mummy Ji requested Papa Ji to allow Naksh to spend some time with her instead. So, Papa Ji attended the meeting on Naksh's behalf today."

(AASH MANSION - where all characters are living together.

AGNIHOTRI'S MANSION - original house)

Mrunali nodded in understanding.

Everyone knows how much Naksh loves his mother.

As they arrived at the hospital, Pihu skillfully parked the car, and they both stepped out, exchanging warm greetings with the familiar faces they encountered along the way.

Mrunali's gaze drifted to Pihu's attire, a lovely light blue saree that complemented her complexion perfectly. "You're wearing a saree today, that's a nice change," Mrunali observed.

Pihu smiled, running a hand over the soft fabric. "I don't have any surgical appointments today, so I didn't have to worry about changing into scrubs later." She explained, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Mrunali's expression turned appreciative. "Hmm... You look pretty," she complimented, her voice sincere.

Pihu's smile widened, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Thanks," she replied.

As they stood there, Mrunali glanced at her watch before turning to Pihu. "I still need to get changed, so I'll catch up with you later, okay?" she said, already starting to move away.

Pihu nodded, waving goodbye. "Bye, see you soon," she replied, watching as Mrunali disappeared into the crowd.

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(MRUNALI POV)

After talking to Pihu, my mood brightened up a little, but my mood was still sore.

How can he leave me behind? I was so excited to meet him again after a week, but he ruined it.

I know it's not a big deal. I can still meet him, but I don't like it when plans get cancelled. They always make me sad no matter how many valid reasons you have behind cancelling out.

I know it's childish, but that's who I am, and I can't change it.

I start walking in the direction of the cardiology department.

I think the meeting was already over and he will be in his cabin already. I sighed. Even if I want to, I can't avoid him. He is a senior here, and I am an intern under his guidance.

As I opened the door, our eyes met, and I was struck by the piercing intensity of his feline gaze. My anger began to dissipate, melting under the warmth of his charming eyes. But I swiftly collected my thoughts, reminding myself that I wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily.

"Can I come in, sir?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of mockery.

Aahan's eyebrow shot up at my use of the formal title, a phrase I never used when addressing him. He was taken aback by my sudden display of deference.

"Come in," he replied, his voice low and smooth.

I ignored his gaze and walked over to my desk, deliberately disregarding his presence. The cabin was quiet, with no sign of Miss Liza, his secretary.

Perhaps no one had informed her of Aahan's return. As the only intern under his guidance, I was uniquely positioned to work closely with him.

Pihu and Aahan never accepted interns, as they were usually preoccupied with their thesis. I was an exception, and I couldn't help but wonder why they had made an exception for me.

(AUTHOR POV)

Aahan's icy gaze lingered on Mrunali for a moment before he spoke, his voice low and smooth. "Little one."

Mrunali's response was immediate, her tone crisp and professional. "Yes, sir?" She looked at him with a formal attitude, her eyes devoid of the warmth that usually sparkled within them.

Aahan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing as he asked, "Can you stop calling me sir?"

Mrunali's response was firm, her voice unwavering. "No... This is a hospital, and I should respect my senior as an intern."

Aahan sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he spoke. "Okay... Little one, I am really sorry."

The apology was a rare concession, one that caught Mrunali off guard.

She retorted, "I don't need your sorry."

Aahan's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a hint of softness as he spoke. "I didn't mean to ditch you."

Mrunali's glare was immediate, her voice laced with hurt. "But still you did."

Aahan's gaze never wavered, his voice gentle as he coaxed her. "Little one, come here."

Mrunali's sulky nature got the better of her, and she replied with a petulant "No."

He pointed to the laptop, his intention unclear.

Aahan's expression didn't change, "Come here. I will show you something."

"I said, NO." She said in a stubborn tone.

Mrunali's bratty response seemed to snap something inside him. His gaze turned cold, his voice stern. "I said come here."

He repeated himself, his voice firm but controlled.

Mrunali's body seemed to respond to his command before her brain could process it. She found herself standing beside him, her heart racing at the sudden change in his demeanour.

Angry Aahan was a formidable sight, and Mrunali knew that she should never be messed with it.

Aahan remained silent, his attention focused on the laptop as he played a video.

The screen flickered to life, displaying a familiar room that made Mrunali's eyes widen in surprise - it was her own room.

A voice came from the video, "This video is recorded for safety purposes. I don't want Aahan to snap at me because he trusts my adopted sister's words more than mine."

The voice belongs to Shivay.

Mrunali's mind whispered a single word: "Dhokebaaz."

Then Shivay walks to the sleeping Mrunali and shakes her, "Uthja behen, Bahar bhukamp aaya hai." He said, trying to rouse her.

(Wake up, Sissy... There was an earthquake outside.)

"Usse khena kal aana." Mrunali's sleepy response was barely audible.

(Tell him to come tomorrow.)

Shivay again shook her, "Khumbkarn ki aakhir santan, natural disaster hai wo, tere ghar ka naukar nahi hai."

(It's a natural disaster, not a worker of your house.)

"Go away..." She turned to another direction.

"Aahan wants you to wake up. He has a early meeting today." He told her.

No response.

Shivay stopped putting effort to wake her up and turned the camera to his face, "She is not gonna wake up. I can pour a bucket of water, but I don't think Aahan will appreciate it. So that's it for today guys. Milte hai kal ke vlog me." And then the video turned off.

(Meet you in the next vlog.)

Aahan looked at Mrunali with a blank face while Mrunali gave him a nervous smile.

"Konsa Nasha kar ke soti hu tum?" He asked her with a done expression.

(What drug do you take before sleeping?)

Mrunali's lips parted to defend herself, but Aahan's words cut her off, his voice low and gentle. "I'm not showing this video to prove you're wrong or to defend myself. I still accept it was my fault." His statement caught her off guard, and her eyes widened in surprise.

Aahan's gaze held hers. "But I want to proof that I genuinely put effort into meeting you," he continued, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "Little one, you're not the only one who was excited to meet. And your anger was valid because I know how much you hate when plans get cancelled."

As Aahan spoke, his words wrapped around Mrunali's heart, warming her from the inside out. A blush crept over her cheeks, and she felt her pulse flutter at his bold confession.

Aahan's confidence in expressing his feelings was growing, and Mrunali found herself drawn to the vulnerability he showed her. In this moment, she saw a glimmer of the man behind the stoic facade, a man who was capable of gentle emotion and deep feeling.

The new level of their relationship was both thrilling and heartwarming.

"Sorry for being stubborn..." Mrunali mumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Aahan's expression softened, "Don't apologize for feeling something, Little one. You have every right to express your emotions. Just don't shut me out when I try to talk to you."

He paused, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "For me, it takes a lot of courage to open up and share my feelings. If you ignore them, I'm afraid I might not be able to find the strength to be so vulnerable again."

Mrunali's heart went out to him, and she felt a deep appreciation for his honesty. "I won't ignore you, Aahan," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll always listen to you, no matter what."

Aahan gave her a small smile and waved a file in front of her, which meant time to work.

"What is it?" She asked.

"This afternoon, you're assisting Doctor Rahul Verma with Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery."

"Ohh," She took the file from Aahan's hands as Aahan continued explaining to her.

"The patient, a 55-year-old male, is diagnosed with severe coronary artery disease, with multiple blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. After conducting various tests, including angiography and echocardiography, the Doctor decides that a CABG surgery is necessary to restore blood flow to the heart."

Mrunali nodded in understanding while her eyes trailed over the patient chart.

"Any doubt?" He asked.

"Nope..." She gave him a bright smile.

"Good luck..." With that, Aahan turned back to his works.

"Thank you," Mrunali also left to find Doctor Rahul Verma.

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"I don't think you're grasping the situation, Pihu," a voice on the phone said.

"Are you telling me we've hit a dead end?" Pihu let out a frustrated sigh.

"For now, yes..."

Pihu's voice trailed off, and she bit her inner cheek in disappointment. As she walked down the corridor, she forced a fake smile onto her face, exchanging pleasantries with passing colleagues.

"Listen, Yuvi, we can't give up yet," Pihu said, a hint of determination creeping into her voice. "If Aahan knows this person, it means the mastermind behind this is a close one. We need to dig deeper."

Yuvi sighed on the other end of the line. "Fine... I'll keep investigating, but you need to get more information about Agnihotri and their relatives. Otherwise, we'll just be spinning our wheels."

"Got it," Pihu replied, her mind already racing with possibilities. With a swift "Thanks, Yuvi," she ended the call.

(PIHU POV)

My mind was a jumble of unanswered questions, but one thing was certain - a sense of foreboding had settled in the pit of my stomach.

I don't know, but I have this gut feeling that something worse is going to happen soon.

As I reached the top of the stairs, my gaze drifted down to the lobby, and my heart sank.

Of all the people in the hospital, my eyes had to land on him - Naksh Agnihotri.

But what really caught my attention was the girl standing beside him.

She was around his age, with striking brown eyes and a slender figure that looked almost fragile in her bodycon white dress. Her shoulder-length brown hair cascaded down her back, framing her heart-shaped face. She was undeniably pretty, with features that seemed almost delicate.

My stomach flipped as I watched them together, a sense of unease settling in.

Who was this girl, and what was she doing with Naksh? I felt a pang of curiosity, mixed with a dash of wariness.

He had claimed he wanted to spend time with his mom, but here he was, in the hospital, with a girl I'd never seen before.

Was she the reason he came to the hospital? Or did he meet her here by chance?

And what really caught my attention was the way she was touching him - her hand casually resting on his arm, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

My mind was a jumble of confusion, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance.

For God's sake, these Agnihotri brothers love to mess with my brain.

"I can hear your thoughts from here," Janvi said, her voice laced with amusement as she stood beside me.

I didn't bother turning around, my gaze still fixed on Naksh and the mysterious girl. "Who is she?" I asked, my tone neutral despite the growing unease in my chest.

Janvi chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Finally, your possessive wifey soul has awakened."

I shot her a sideways glance, my expression stern. "I'm just curious," I said, trying to downplay my interest.

Janvi raised an eyebrow, her smile growing wider. "Save it, girl. I know you're burning with curiosity. She's Shreya Bedi, daughter of Mr. Bedi, who owns a pharmaceutical company. Uncle and Mr. Bedi are close friends, which makes Naksh and Shreya... well, let's just say they go way back."

Janvi's voice trailed off, her eyes glinting with excitement. "She was Naksh's classmate, and..."

She paused, savouring the moment before delivering the final blow, and I don't think I am not gonna like it. "And Naksh's crush."

Here we go.

My heart sank, a pang of unknown emotion stabbing at my chest.

Janvi's voice is full of enthusiasm; she is really enjoying this situation, "Bhai likes her so much! She was our 'almost' sister-in-law before you came into the picture."

Janvi's voice dripped with drama. "So, basically, she's our 'Na ho saki bhabhi ji'."

(So basically she is our 'it can't happen sister-in-law'.)

I hummed in response, my mind reeling with this new information. But I'm quite sure my heart was not so happy with this information.

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I watched Shreya laugh at something Naksh said.

I didn't know what it was about her, but everything about Shreya Bedi felt sour to my eyes and bitter to my heart.

I'm not liking this girl even though I don't even know her.

"Janvi's voice was laced with amusement as she gazed at Shreya. "You've got some competition, girl."

I took a moment to ponder her words before responding with a confident smirk. "There's no competition to begin with."

Janvi's eyebrows shot up, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

I leaned in, my voice taking on a determined tone. "If Naksh still has feelings for her, then I don't stand a chance. But if he doesn't, then I'm confident in myself that she doesn't stand a chance against me. And I am married to him. Is it not a plus point?"

Janvi chuckled, clearly entertained by my bold claim. "Quite confident, aren't you?"

I nodded, my smirk still firmly in place.

Janvi's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smirked back at me. "Let's find out..."

Just then, Janvi shouted out, "Naksh!" her voice carrying across the lobby and grabbing the attention of Naksh and Shreya.

I shot Janvi a sideways glare, which only earned me a wink and a sly smile. "Never miss a good drama," she whispered, already digging into her pocket for her phone.

I ignored her antics and focused on the commotion downstairs. My eyes locked onto Naksh's, and I was surprised to find him already staring at me.

A hint of surprise danced across his face, perhaps because he hadn't expected to see me there.

But as his gaze roamed over me, I wondered if it was something else entirely - like the fact that I was wearing a saree in the hospital, which seemed to have caught his attention.

Naksh's eyes lingered on me and I felt a flutter in my chest.

Janvi's whispered, "Oh, this is getting good" I'm sure I can't say the same.

I descended the stairs with caution, my eyes fixed on Naksh as I reached the bottom.

Janvi halted behind me, but I continued walking towards Naksh, our gazes locked in a silent conversation.

I stopped in front of him, confident as usual. Even though there is a turmoil of emotions going on inside me, my face is still quite calm, a practice of many years.

"Like what you see, Hubby..." The first word fell out of my mouth.

Not only him but I was also surprised by my words.

He chuckled, "Saree at work is a rare occasion," he replied, his voice low and smooth.

I raised an eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Seeing you here is also a rare occasion. So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?" I folded my arms across my chest, my eyes never leaving his.

"It's me, for whom Felis came here." A high-pitched voice wrapped in an American accent replied.

An American in an Indian package.

Feeling gaze on me, I shift my attention to the girl, "Oh!... And who is Felis?"

My eyes drifted between her and Naksh.

Before Naksh could respond, the girl jumped in, her voice dripping with excitement and grabbed his arm.

I narrowed my eyes at her action. This bitch.

"Felis is a nickname for Naksh from me. It means cat in Latin. You know how beautiful his feline eyes are." She gave a fake cute smile.

I felt my stomach turn as I forced a smile, trying not to reveal my disgust.

"What a purr-fect name for a kitty here," I said, my tone laced with sarcasm. Janvi snickered beside me, amused by my wordplay.

Naksh nervously extricated his arm from the girl's grip, and she pouted like a toddler, her lower lip jutting out in a ridiculous expression.

My disdain for her grew with each passing moment.

'I really don't like this girl' was the thought of my heart screaming.

"And who are you?" I asked her looking directly dead into her eyes.

"Myself, Shreya Bedi... The most important person in his life," she replied, her voice dripping with confidence. She extended her hand for a handshake, a cunning smirk spreading across her face.

I felt a surge of anger at her audacity, but I pushed it down, determined to keep my cool. I took her hand, my grip firm as I looked her straight in the eye.

"I've heard a lot about you, Doctor Pihu Chauhan," she said, her eyes glinting with malice.

I chuckled at her antic, looks like someone didn't accept me as Naksh's wife. "It's Doctor Pihu Naksh Agnihotri," I corrected, my smile widening. "I wish I could say the same about you, but sorry to say, I've never heard of you before."

Shreya's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "You will know soon," she said, her voice dripping with menace.

I let go of her hand, my expression neutral. "Pleasure will be mine," I replied, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

I shot Naksh a withering glance, my eyes flashing with a warning. He opened his mouth to speak, but I ignored him, turning on my heel to walk away.

Janvi fell into step beside me, her phone already out as she sent a video she'd recorded to Shivay, Mrunali, and Aahan. "Her intentions don't sound good," Janvi said, her voice low and concerned.

I nodded curtly, my mind already racing with the implications. "I know," I replied, my tone firm.

Janvi's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "So, what's the plan, Pihu? How are you going to handle this situation?"

I smiled, a fierce determination burning within me. "I don't care what kind of history Naksh and Shreya share. I don't care if she thinks she has a claim on him. But what I do care about is that Naksh is my husband, and she can't have him until he's officially mine."

─── ❝ To be continued❞ ─────

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