Authors pov
As everyone laughed, talked, and ate, Ruhi suddenly froze.
Shit… I forgot to send a message at home.
She was about to reach for her phone when Aditya noticed her panic and stopped her gently.
“Relax,” he said. “I already informed Rishabh that you’re with me.”
Hearing that, Ruhi finally breathed easy. The tension left her shoulders, and soon she joined the conversation again, laughing and chatting like before.
After finishing dinner, they all stood up, ready to leave, when Aarav suddenly clapped his hands.
“Wait! Let’s go to a club,” he announced. “We should celebrate. I mean Aayansh finally got himself a girlfriend.”
He smirked. “The same guy who used to say girls were a distraction and marriage was a trap. Looks like someone might be getting married soon.”
Everyone burst into laughter, teasing Aayansh mercilessly.
“Wait, wait,” Aditya interrupted, instantly serious. “Nothing like that is happening anytime soon. I’m not letting my sister get married early. Not till thirty..no, forty.”
He turned to Aayansh. “If you can wait till then, you can marry her.”
“What?” Aayansh exclaimed. “Till forty? Are you crazy?”
“That’s when Ruhi will marry,” Aditya replied calmly.
The two immediately started arguing, voices overlapping, when Kabir stepped in.
“Enough, you two. Continue this fight later. Let’s go to the club first.”
“Yes, let’s go,” everyone agreed.
That’s when Ruhi spoke up softly, “You guys should go. I’ll go home.”
Everyone turned toward her at once.
“Why?” they asked together.
“I’m in a t-shirt and pajamas,” she explained. “And my head is already hurting. Loud music will just make it worse.”
“Then let’s cancel the plan,” Aditya said instantly.
“Yes,” Riya agreed. “We’ll go home.”
“No,” Ruhi said firmly. “You all go and enjoy. You and bhai also need time together I know you fought yesterday. Take this time, relax, and talk.”
She looked at Aditya. “And bhai, you need to apologize to bhabhi. It wasn’t her fault.”
Before anyone could argue, Aayansh spoke, “I’ll drop Ruhi home. You guys enjoy it.”
He picked up his wallet. “And the bill’s on me. Just send it I’ll pay.”
“Ohhh, someone’s being generous today,” Aarav teased.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Are you really dropping her home, or planning a date night?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Shut up, Aarav,” Aayansh said, rolling his eyes. “She’s had a long day.”
“Ohooo,” Kabir teased. “Public concern now? Earlier emotions were illegal for you.”
“Exactly,” Ishita added. “Boyfriend mode fully activated.”
Ruhi felt her cheeks heat up and quickly looked away. Aayansh noticed and smiled softly to himself.
“Enough teasing,” Aditya said, crossing his arms. “Let him drop her. She’s not well.”
“Aww, big brother approved,” Arya said dramatically.
“Don’t push your luck,” Aditya warned Aayansh
Riya walked up to Ruhi and held her hand. “Go home and rest properly. Call me once you reach, okay?”
Ruhi nodded. “I will. Thank you.”
“Anytime,” Riya smiled knowingly.
Aayansh grabbed his jacket and keys. “Come on, Ruuh.”
She followed him toward the exit.
“Drive safe!” Aarav shouted. “And no sneaking around balconies!”
“Get a life,” Aayansh replied without turning back.
Laughter echoed behind them as the door closed.
Outside, the night was calm and cool so different from the noisy warmth inside. Ruhi walked slowly, and Aayansh instinctively matched her pace.
“Head still hurting?” he asked softly.
“A little,” she admitted.
He stopped near the car and turned toward her. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would’ve taken you home immediately.”
“I didn’t want to ruin everyone’s mood,” she said quietly. “And… I was just happy things were finally okay between you and bhai.”
Aayansh looked at her for a long moment, then gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
“Don’t run like that again,” he said “Not without thinking. You scared me.”
She looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not angry,” he said softly. “I’m just scared of losing you.”
Her eyes softened. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He helped her into the car, making sure she was comfortable before starting the drive. Within minutes, Ruhi was fast asleep.
Aayansh smiled, slowed the car, and let the road stretch quietly beneath them.
When he reached the Raichand mansion, he parked outside and simply looked at her unwilling to wake her.
But she stirred and rubbed her eyes. “We reached?”
He hummed in response.
As she moved to step out, he gently held her wrist, stopping her. Before she could react, he leaned in and kissed her.
She froze for a second… then kissed him back.
They pulled away slowly.
Blushing deeply, Ruhi quickly got down, said bye and ran inside without looking back.
Aayansh stayed there for a moment, watching her disappear into the house, a soft smile on his face.
Then he started the car and drove away his heart lighter than it had been in a long time.
After reaching home, Aayansh freshened up and lay down on his bed, but sleep refused to come. His mind kept replaying Ruhi’s tired face, the way she had fallen asleep in the car, the warmth of that last kiss.
He picked up his phone and typed.
Aayansh: Reached home.
The reply came almost immediately.
Ruhi: Good. I was waiting for your message.
A soft smile curved his lips.
Aayansh: Why didn’t you sleep yet?
Ruhi: Was waiting for you. Now I’ll sleep.
Aayansh: Okay, go and sleep. And if your headache doesn’t go away or you feel unwell, tell me. We’ll go to the hospital.
Ruhi: Yes.
After a pause, another message popped up.
Ruhi: Good night.
Aayansh: Good night, Ruuh.
Only then did he finally close his eyes.
The next morning, Ruhi couldn’t get up from her bed.
Her head felt like it was splitting apart, her body weak and heavy. Even with the blanket pulled tightly around her, she was shivering badly. Her breaths were shallow, and her eyes barely opened before closing again.
A few minutes later, Aayan walked in to wake her.
“Bui?” he called softly.
No response.
Concern creeping in, he stepped closer and sat beside her. The moment his hand touched her forehead, his heart skipped.
She was burning up.
“Mumma…” he whispered in panic.
Ruhi trembled even more, curling into herself. Without wasting another second, Aayan rushed out of the room and ran downstairs.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table, waiting for Ruhi to join them for breakfast.
Avni bhabhi stood up the moment she saw Aayan running in.
“Aayan? What happened?” she asked worriedly. “Why are you running like this? And where is your bui?”
His voice shook as he replied, “Mumma… Bui is not well. I touched her forehead it’s very hot. She’s shivering badly.”
The table fell silent in an instant.
Avni bhabhi’s face drained color. “What?”
She immediately moved toward the stairs.
“She was fine last night,” Badi ma said, already following her. “She had a headache, but… this is bad.” Riya spoke
All the family also went behind them.
Rishabh stood up too. “Call the doctor,” he said firmly.
“I’ll do it,” Riya replied, her voice tense.
As all the family rushed back upstairs, their heart pounding, fear clawing at their chest as they looked at Ruhi lying there small, fragile, and burning with fever.
The moment the family saw Ruhi in that condition, panic spread through the room.
She lay on the bed, her face pale, lips slightly trembling, body burning with fever while shivers ran through her. Avni bhabhi tried to adjust the blanket, Riya stood frozen near the door, and Aditya’s jaw tightened as worry clouded his eyes.
Rishabh rushed to her side.
“Ruhi… ,” he said softly, cupping her face. “Look at me. What’s happening? Where does it hurt?”
Her eyelids fluttered weakly. She tried to speak, her lips moving without sound. A faint breath escaped her mouth as she struggled to stay conscious.
“I… my head” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Before anyone could react, her eyes rolled back.
“Ruhi!” Avni bhabhi screamed.
Her body went limp in Rishabh’s arms.
Aditya moved instantly. “Call the doctor now, where is he!”
Just then, the doctor arrived, having already been called when her fever was noticed earlier. He quickly stepped forward, checking her pulse, her breathing, her temperature. His expression grew serious as he examined her.
“The fever is very high,” he said firmly. “And she fainted because of weakness and dehydration.”
Avni bhabhi’s hands trembled. “She’ll be okay… right?”
“We can’t take any chances,” the doctor replied. “She needs to be admitted immediately. IV fluids and observation are necessary.”
The room fell silent.
Rishabh nodded without hesitation. “Prepare the car. We’re taking her to the hospital now.”
At the hospital
The hospital corridors echoed with hurried footsteps as Ruhi was rushed into the emergency ward. The warmth of home was replaced by harsh white lights and the sterile chill of the hospital, making everything feel colder, heavier.
“Admit her immediately,” the doctor instructed.
Within minutes, nurses moved swiftly IV lines were inserted, monitors attached, cold compresses placed against her burning forehead. Ruhi stirred faintly, a soft whimper escaping her lips before she slipped back into unconsciousness.
Aditya stood at the foot of the bed, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
Rishabh remained beside her, one hand never leaving hers, as if letting go might make things worse.
“How did this happen so suddenly?” Avni bhabhi asked, her voice trembling.
The doctor adjusted his glasses. “She’s been running a high fever since last night. Physical exhaustion, emotional stress, and dehydration all of it combined.”
Stress.
The word settled heavily in the room.
“We’ve given her antipyretics and IV fluids,” he continued. “She should regain consciousness soon, but we’ll keep her under observation for at least twenty-four hours.”
Rishabh nodded firmly. “Do whatever is needed.”
He and Avni stepped outside to speak with the doctor, and once they were assured that Ruhi was stable for now, Rishabh sent the rest of the family home.
Aditya dragged a hand down his face, guilt etched deep into his features.
“She didn’t eat anything yesterday… and still ran out like that.”
Riya lowered her gaze, her eyes filling with regret. “I shouldn’t have scared her like that.”
Time passed slowly. Rishabh and Avni eventually left, as Aayan wouldn’t listen to anyone. He was adamant about coming to the hospital and refused to go to school.
So only Riya and Aditya were in the hospital with Ruhi
Minutes stretched into hours as they waited by Ruhi’s bedside, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. The steady beep of the monitor was the only reminder that she was still fighting.
Then
Ruhi’s fingers twitched.
Everyone leaned forward.
Her eyelashes fluttered before her eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first, then confused.
“Bhai…” she whispered weakly.
Aditya bent down instantly. “I’m here, beta. You’re in the hospital. Don’t try to move.”
“Hospital…?” she murmured, wincing as she lightly pressed her fingers to her head. “It hurts…”
“I know,” Riya said softly, brushing her hair back. “The doctor’s taking care of you.”
Ruhi swallowed with difficulty. Her gaze slowly moved around the room until it stopped.
He wasn’t there.
“Aayansh…?” she whispered.
Aditya stiffened.
“He’ll be here soon,” Riya said gently. “He’s been calling and messaging you nonstop so I picked up the call and informed him.
At that exact moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.
“Which room is Ruhi in?”
The voice was familiar, urgent, shaken.
Aditya turned sharply.
“Aayansh.”
The door pushed open, and Aayansh rushed inside, breathless, eyes red, fear written all over his face.
The moment his gaze landed on Ruhi pale, weak, lying on the hospital bed, something inside him shattered.
He crossed the room in seconds and stopped beside her, afraid to touch her, afraid of hurting her.
“Ruuh…” his voice cracked. “Why didn’t you tell me? I told you last night if you felt unwell, you should have called me.”
Despite the pain, her lips curved into the faintest smile.
He let out a shaky breath and gently took her hand, pressing it to his forehead.
“I was so scared,” he whispered. “Please don’t do this to me again.”
She squeezed his fingers weakly.
From the doorway, Aditya watched them quiet, protective, finally understanding.
This wasn’t just affection.
It was love.
And this time, he didn’t interrupt.
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