Siara's pov-
The hospital lights were harsh, the air heavy with tension, yet it felt oddly familiar-comforting even. Operating under such pressure had become second nature to me. The patient's tumor was one of the trickiest cases I'd ever faced, but precision and calm were my weapons.
When it was finally over, the silence broke into muted cheers. The other doctors in the room looked at me like I'd walked on water.
"You've done it, Dr. Siara! A miracle!" one of the residents exclaimed, his face lit up like a child at a carnival.
I pulled off my gloves and tossed them aside. "It wasn't a miracle. It was technique," I said, my voice flat. Their admiration didn't move me. I didn't do this for applause. I did it because I could.
After changing out of my scrubs and slipping into my usual attire, I made my way to the hospital exit. As I stepped outside, the night air greeted me, crisp and quiet. The city seemed to hum faintly in the background, unaware of the life that had just been saved within these walls.
And there he was-leaning casually against the car like he owned the world, Mahir. He was impossible to miss, exuding his usual commanding presence, even in the simplest of postures. His eyes scanned the surroundings briefly, narrowing into a glare when a couple of men lingered their gazes on me for a moment too long. They immediately looked away, murmuring something to each other before disappearing into the night.
Without a word, Mahir stepped forward, taking my bag from me. I didn't protest; I never did. It wasn't worth the effort. He opened the backseat and placed my belongings inside with practiced ease.
The next thing I knew, he was holding the passenger door open for me. His expression was unreadable, as always, but there was something in the way he waited-silent, expectant. Without a word, I slid into the seat, as composed and blank as ever.
Once we were both seated, the car hummed to life, the headlights cutting through the dimly lit streets. We rolled through the quiet streets of Italy, the soft hum of the engine was the only sound filling the space. Mahir's hands rested lightly on the steering wheel, his sharp profile illuminated by the glow of passing streetlights.
"How was the surgery?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"Successful," I replied simply, turning my gaze toward the window. The city lights blurred as we sped past, and for a moment, I wondered what it felt like to celebrate something, to feel triumphant.
"Must have been risky," he pressed, his voice low but steady.
"It was," I admitted after a pause. "But nothing I haven't done before."
"You know you can't keep carrying this weight alone," he said, his voice quieter now.
I finally turned my head, meeting his gaze. "What weight?" I asked, my tone as cold as ever.
His lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes searching mine. "The one you think no one else can see," he said simply.
I turned my gaze back to the window. "I carried it alone for years, see I'm still surviving. Will survive in future also."
"You're not alone, not anymore," he murmured, almost to himself, his voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.
A faint chuckle escaped my lips, cold and devoid of humor. I don't need someone. Not anymore.
The car turned down a quieter street, and I could see our hotel in the distance. I leaned back into my seat, closing my eyes briefly. The day had been long, but the thought of returning to a room filled with silence didn't bother me but how can I forget, silence and younger clan are enemies.
When we reached the hotel, they all were gathered in the lobby, their voices carrying through the space like a pack of unruly hyenas. Shivay was leading the nonsense, as usual, waving a pamphlet about some ancient tour.
The hotel staff, meanwhile, looked on from behind the counter, their expressions a mix of horror and resignation. One particularly pale bellboy muttered something in Italian that sounded suspiciously like a prayer. They already looked traumatized.
Shivay suddenly clapped his hands,"We're going full Roman Holiday Tomorrow! Scooters! Ancient! Aesthetic!"
"Scooters?" Myra asked, raising an eyebrow. "What, like Vespa scooters?"
"No, not just any scooters!" Shivay declared, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I'm talking about vintage, ancient, absolutely aesthetic scooters. The kind that scream old Italy! The kind that make people stop and stare, like, 'Wow, these people belong in a postcard.'"
And just as I thought the chaos couldn't escalate further, Kavya suddenly cleared her throat. "Excuse me, everyone," she said loudly, her voice cutting through the pandemonium. Devansh was standing beside her with a wide smile on his face.
The younger clan froze mid-chaos. All eyes were now on Kavya.
"What? What is it?" Avya asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Kavya gave them all a sly smile. "I have an announcement."
The room collectively gasped as though she had just revealed she is leaving for moon.
"Kavya bhabhi, are you adding me in your will?" Myra demanded, her face lit up with wild excitement.
"You forgot your brain home?" Kabir added, his eyes narrowing in deep contemplation.
"Wait, wait!" Shivay interrupted, holding up his hands like he was directing traffic. "Let me guess. Kavya bhabhi has been recruited by the Italian mafia. You're going undercover, aren't you?"
Kavya rolled her eyes but kept her smile. "No, no, and absolutely not. I'm............. pregnant."
They all went silent. For a split second, the stillness felt surreal. And then, like a grenade going off, the lobby exploded into chaos.
"WHAT?!" Shivay screamed so loudly that one of the staff dropped their clipboard in shock.
Kabir, clearly in denial, nearly choked on his chips. "Wait, what? Pregnant? As in... a human baby?!"
Divya gasped, tears streaming down her face. "Oh my God, this is the best day of my life! Kavya bhabhi, you're glowing!" She rushed toward her but, predictably, tripped over again and went flying face-first into a nearby decorative fountain.
"Divya, get out of the fountain!" Avya snapped, pulling her soaking-wet sister up as she sputtered.
Shivay was already pacing in circles. "Guys, this is big. This is monumental. We need to throw a baby shower right now! Kavya bhabhi, do you want a circus theme? I can get an elephant by tomorrow! We already have Kabir as Donkey"
"You're going to traumatize the baby before it's even born," Mahi interjected dryly.
Devansh ran a hand through his hair, looking both overwhelmed and amused. "Honestly, I'm still processing this. I mean, I'm going to be a dad. How did that happen?"
Kabir, who had apparently overheard this, popped up behind him and yelled, "Let me explain! When two people love each other-"
"NO!" Kavya cut him off, turning bright red. "Kabir, stop talking!"
The poor hotel staff, who had been watching this entire scene unfold, were huddled in a corner, whispering in Italian and glancing toward the exit as though they might make a run for it. One particularly distressed bellboy muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Why us, God?"
Through it all, Kavya just stood there, glowing with excitement as her announcement spiraled into complete anarchy.
"Kavya," I started, my tone as neutral as always. "Congratulations. You're going to be a great mother."
Her face lit up at my words, and she reached out to grab my hand, squeezing it gently. "Thank you, bhabhi. That means a lot coming from you."
Mahir stepped forward, his presence commanding as always. He extended a hand to Devansh, who took it with a firm shake. "Congratulations to both of you," Mahir said, his deep voice carrying an uncharacteristic warmth.
_______________________________________
Next Morning
The morning air was crisp and filled with an undeniable buzz of excitement as we gathered for breakfast in the hotel, though it was more of a spectacle than an actual meal. As usual, Mahir was next to me, as indifferent to the chaos as I was, but even he couldn't hide his amusement at the younger clan's antics.
Just as I was finishing my coffee, the door swung open, and Avi stepped in. The entire room seemed to pause, as if waiting for some dramatic entrance. He grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. "Morning, everyone!" he announced with exaggerated cheer, raising his hand like he was making a grand speech. "I know I'm a sight for sore eyes, but try to contain yourselves."
"Ugh, not again," I muttered under my breath, already dreading what was coming next. My eyes briefly flickered up, only to meet the mischievous sparkle in Avi's eyes. I straightened up, feeling his familiar teasing energy, and instinctively started a 360° scan of his body. The past few months had been... eventful for Avi, and I had learned to check for any new bruises or scrapes. It was a habit by now.
As I checked him over, he made a show of spinning slowly in place, with an exaggerated shrug. "What's the matter, dii? You miss me already? You check me out like you're inspecting a car at a dealership. Don't worry, I'm in perfect condition. No new wounds."
"Good for you," I muttered, my voice slightly softer than usual. But that was about as much warmth as I could muster.
"Dii, I love you, you know that, right?" Avi hugged me, his grin widening. "I don't break any promises with you. I didn't even touch my bike keys."
I could tell that he was trying his best to reassure me, but there was a stubborn streak in him that could never be tamed. As much as I wanted to ignore it, there was something about him that made it hard for me to stay mad. I don't know when he became the most essential part of my life besides my medical degree. If something happened to him-if he got hurt, if I lost him-I didn't know how I'd even survive this time. He is the only thread left, the only one that held the fabric of everything I pretended to be together. He isn't just a nuisance or a reckless brother to scold. He was the piece of me that kept me grounded.
"Honestly, it's good you showed up, Avi," Kabir said with a grin, nudging his brother in arms. "At least someone will go down on their knees for bhabhi, instead of someone." He threw a pointed look at Mahir, his grin widening with mischief while avi just threw a glare at mahir.
Everyone was buzzing with excitement-well, everyone except me, of course Shivay, practically vibrating with energy, clapped his hands together and said, "Alright, everyone, brace yourselves. I have a surprise waiting outside. You're going to love it!"
Brace yourselves? He should have said, "Disgrace yourselves," I thought, rolling my eyes..
We followed him outside, and the sight waiting for us was... well, unforgettable.
Parked in a row like a lineup of antique relics were scooters that could only be described as aesthetic atrocities. Their faded paint, rusted rims, and suspiciously sticky seats made me wonder if they had been stolen from some roadside garage and slapped with a "vintage" label for good measure. Each scooter was decorated with ornate but completely unnecessary decals that looked like they'd been applied by someone with a glue gun and zero restraint. One scooter had a crooked wicker basket attached to the front, which contained a fake flower arrangement that was missing half its petals. Another had tassels hanging off the side.
Shivay's face lit up as if he had just uncovered the secret to eternal happiness. "Behold! The best way to explore Rome! These scooters will take us on a journey of beauty, history, and adventure!"
"Or take us straight to the ER," I muttered under my breath, eyeing the scooters like they were about to collapse under the sheer force of their own disappointment.
Mahir, standing next to me, gave a dry chuckle, leaning in so his whisper was only for my ears. "The scooters are practically fossils but you won't fall Biwi, don't worry."
"Hope you know how to ride that thing husband," I rolled my eyes, watching as Divya practically caressed her scooter like it was a wild animal she was trying to tame.
"Is it even legal for these things to be on the road?" Myra added, eyeing the scooters as if they were about to spontaneously combust.
Mahir turned to me, his lips twitching into a barely contained smile. "I can already see it. We'll be the first tourists to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. 'Group of tourists found in a heap of tangled scooters-no survivors.
Just a day ago, we had walked into this Italian hotel with hopes of a beautiful vacation, and now we were preparing to embark on an adventure that was almost certain to end in either a wrecked scooter, an insurance claim, or both.
They all soon settled. Mahir and I were, of course, last to get settled. He climbed onto the scooter with a careful grace that somehow made it look like he was preparing for battle, not a ride through the scenic streets of Rome. And me? I perched on the back, stiff as a board, with every inch of me screaming that this was a terrible idea.
"You good?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder. His voice had that familiar, calm assurance that made my thoughts scatter, just like always.
"Perfect," I said flatly, my arms crossed over my chest as I fought every instinct not to kick the scooter into a ditch.
Kabir, who had been navigating his own scooter like a man possessed by the spirit of adventure, started his teasing with a grin. "I can already see it, siara bhabhi is going to fall hard...on bhai, sorry for bhai. You know you both look like a newly arranged married couple"
I didn't even glance at them. I was still focusing on not falling off the scooter as Mahir revived the engine, already preparing for the first awkward step of this adventure.
Mahir, sensing my discomfort, leaned back slightly, giving me just enough reassurance to avoid toppling over. His hand grazed mine as he steadied me, and I could feel the weight of it, even through the thick layers of awkwardness that hung between us. "Stay close," he murmured, his voice low, so only I could hear.
As we navigated through the winding streets of Rome, trying to stay upright on our questionable scooters, I couldn't help but notice the awkwardness in the way I was gripping onto Mahir. My hands were locked stiffly around his waist, my knuckles turning white as I tried to avoid bumping into him.
Mahir, clearly sensing my discomfort, glanced back at me with that same calm expression he wore when he was analyzing a particularly complex problem.
"Siara," he said, his voice low but firm, "You're holding on like I'm going to bite you."
I blinked, confused for a moment, before realizing what he meant. My grip was so tense that it probably looked like I was ready to launch myself into space rather than ride a scooter. His words were soft, but there was something in them that made me pause.
"Relax," he continued, his tone barely above a whisper. "Hold me properly if you want to make it through this alive."
I could feel his body shift slightly, as he adjusted his posture to give me more room, though it didn't take much-there was barely any space between us as it was. His hand rested casually on the handlebar in front of him, but I could feel the subtle warmth of his back against my chest, the slight flex of his muscles as he steadied the scooter.
For a moment, my mind went blank. I was acutely aware of every inch of contact-his warmth, the way the muscles in his back shifted beneath my touch, the quiet hum of his presence that seemed to fill the space between us. It was... different.
I inhaled sharply, a little caught off guard by the sudden proximity. I loosened my grip slightly, just enough to stop feeling like I was holding onto a lifeline. The tension in my hands started to fade, and I allowed myself to lean into him just a little more.
The sound of the city faded into the background as I focused on the feel of the scooter beneath us, and for the first time, I wasn't thinking about the absurdity of the situation, or the fact that we were still trying to ride these death traps through Rome. Instead, I was simply aware of Mahir. His steadiness, the quiet reassurance in his posture, his proximity.
Mahi was riding the scooter Kabir sitting behind her, in his infinite wisdom, took the lead, holding up his phone like a treasure map. He was the self-appointed navigator, following the Google Maps directions. At first, everything seemed fine, though the scooters groaned under our weight as if protesting the journey.
Suddenly, Mahi swerved around a corner. "This way!" When kabir shouted, though it didn't seem like it was the right way at all. Shivay trailing behind us on his scooter with divya, tried to follow, but the tiny street they were forced onto made it impossible for anyone to pass without scraping the sides of their scooters against the walls of buildings.
I swear, it looked like the streets were built for ants, not scooters.
We tried to follow the winding path, but it felt more like an obstacle course. The scooters jerked every time we tried to go too fast, and we had to dodge people walking, other scooters, and the occasional stray cat that seemed to pop out of nowhere.
Then, disaster struck.
As we were squeezed through one particularly narrow street, someone above us decided it was the perfect time to dump their entire drink-presumably a cup of coffee-right over the edge of a balcony. The liquid descended at breakneck speed and splattered directly onto Divya's pristine floral white gown.
As we continued following Kabir through the maze of tiny streets, the next part of our journey took a turn for the absurd. Google Maps, led us straight into an open square where a wedding ceremony was taking place. There were flowers everywhere, the sound of wedding music, and a couple standing at the altar exchanging vows-serene, romantic, and very, very unsuspecting of the chaos that was about to crash into their perfect moment.
Mahi, completely oblivious to the situation, zoomed ahead, leading us directly into the wedding procession. Everyone else had no choice but to follow, like a herd of confused animals, trying to dodge guests who looked at us with raised eyebrows. The scooters, completely out of place in such a setting, made a noise like a herd of dying goats as we all trundled forward.
And then, the best part happened.
Just as we all speed by the altar, Shivay and Divya, of course, had to be the stars of this whole fiasco. Their scooter, which had been clunking along with tyres like two tired old horses, decided it was time to make its exit in the most dramatic way possible. And by dramatic, I mean it turned into a wrecking ball of absurdity.
Shivay, still trying to maintain his cool, had no idea what hit him. He crashed to the ground with the scooter on top of him, while Divya, as usual, screamed in disbelief. They both fell in the middle of the wedding procession, right in front of the bride and groom, who had stopped mid-vow to stare in horror.
"Excuse me, excuse us!" Shivay yelled from under the scooter, trying to push it off himself. "We thought to congratulate you guys on our way!"
"I swear, Rome is cursed," Divya muttered under her breath, trying to pull herself up with all the dignity she could muster, which was not much, given the current state of her outfit.
The guests, utterly baffled, stared at the scene in disbelief, unsure whether they should laugh, cry, or call for a priest to bless the scooter disaster that had just occurred. The couple, still standing at the altar, were now thoroughly confused, as the entire clan scrambled to untangle scooters and avoid crashing into the cake stand.
After the wedding disaster, they somehow managed to untangle themselves from the wreckage of the scooters, leaving behind a very confused wedding party, the vintage scooter and an even more confused bride. But the chaos didn't stop there. Oh, no. The Google Maps-kabir's trusted guide to disaster-was only getting started.
Shivay, Divya, and Avi hopped onto a scooter together. Avi was trying his best to keep up with the madness, grinning like a maniac, while Divya, still holding onto her ruined gown with one hand, clung onto the back of the scooter. Meanwhile, Shivay sat in front, swerving dramatically as he adjusted his position.
"Avi, hold on tight! These scooters are practically going to fall apart!" Divya warned, her voice a mix of horror and panic.
Then came the next instruction from Google Maps. "Turn right in 300 meters," it said, in that calm, robotic voice. But what the map didn't bother to mention was that the right turn was a narrow alley that had somehow become a tiny food market, complete with open carts and angry vendors shouting in Italian.
Naturally, Mahi didn't stop, because, of course, why would she? Instead, she cranked the scooter throttle forward and plowed through the alley, dodging fruit stands like some kind of poorly coordinated action hero. Apples and tomatoes flew through the air, barely missing us as we swerved and honked our horns like madmen.
Divya's squeal echoed, "Shivay, what in the world are you doing?" She clutched the side of the scooter, trying to avoid the now-glaring tomatoes.
And then it got even worse.
Devansh, kavya, and the rest of the gang-who had been following us-didn't quite register that the alley had become a food war zone. Devansh, in his typical style, was just behind us, trying to show off his scootering skills by leaning into each curve like a professional racer. But when the map led us into a random open space filled with market stalls, he went full throttle, and his scooter-predictably-hit a stall full of piled-up bananas.
The sound of the collision was glorious, and bananas went flying everywhere like some kind of tropical fruit bomb.
"Oops," Devansh said casually, looking at the wreckage of fruit. "Guess I should have slowed down." But it was too late. The damage was done. The whole alley erupted in chaos, as fruit vendors chased after us with brooms, yelling in Italian.
Meanwhile, the rest of us were still stuck in the madness, trying to navigate through the now banana-slicked streets. Shivay's scooter hit a cart filled with onions, sending them rolling like bowling balls. Divya screamed again, avoiding an onion with impressive agility. Avi, looking completely unbothered, was acting casually as if this was just another Tuesday in his chaotic life.
Just then shivay screamed to kavya without looking back,"Bhabhi hold your baby tight"
Kavya's response came fast,"My baby will curse you your whole life you maniac"
And then, just when we thought it couldn't get worse, the scooter in front of me-Mahir and I-hit a bucket of what I'm pretty sure was fish. The smell was enough to knock out a small army.
I held my breath, trying not to gag. "You've got to be kidding me." I said, glancing at Mahir.
He just raised an eyebrow, clearly not surprised anymore. "What? You don't like this wild ride... wife?"
As if that wasn't enough, Google Maps decided it was time to lead us into a dead end-a tiny courtyard that was filled with construction workers. They stared at us like we were the greatest spectacle they'd ever seen.
Shivay tried to turn around, but his scooter sputtered out like an old generator.
"Well, that's it," he sighed. "I guess we're walking now."
Divya, looking at the devastation behind her, gave a dramatic groan. "What wrong I did to anyone before arriving in Italy?"
And just like that, we were stranded in the middle of what was probably the most chaotic part of Rome, surrounded by angry vendors, rolling fruit, and scooters that had more personality than I could handle. It was like a cartoon that was somehow playing out in real life.
The chaos was endless-a never-ending cycle of frustration, fruit, and the worst scooter ride of our lives. But, somehow, we all just kept going, because, really, I hope we didn't end up in jail for the amount of destruction we had caused in Rome?
I knew it, we are never going to reach the places they dreamed before arriving here. If this was the day one, what is Waiting for us in future?