Author’s Pov
After a few days, Ruhi had finally recovered. The fever was gone, the weakness fading, and today she was determined to return to work despite her family’s strong protests.
Breakfast turned into a battlefield.“You still need rest,” one brother said.“Take a few more days off,” another insisted.
Ruhi listened silently for a while, then finally stood up, pushing her chair back.
“I’m fine,” she said firmly. “I’m going to the office.”
And before anyone could stop her, she walked out.
Back at the office, Ruhi buried herself in work. Even though she had worked from home, Rishabh had strictly limited her screen time, often taking her laptop away. Now, the pending files felt endless.
She was deep into reading a report when a knock sounded on her cabin door.
“Come in,” she said without looking up. There was a brief pause.
Then someone cleared their throat.
Ruhi frowned and finally lifted her gaze. Her breath caught.
Aayansh stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, a large bouquet of deep red roses in his hands. His lips curved into that familiar, maddening smile the one that always made her forget what she was supposed to be annoyed about.
For a second, the world around her faded.
“Aayansh?” she blinked. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Good morning to you too,” he said lightly, walking toward her desk. “I thought I’d check on a certain someone who ignored my calls and decided to return to work like nothing happened.”
She crossed her arms. “I didn’t ignore you. I was busy.”
“Busy,” he repeated, eyes drifting to the mountain of files on her desk. His smile softened. “This doesn’t look like ‘fully recovered’ behavior.”
Before she could reply, he placed the bouquet gently on her desk. The scent of fresh roses filled the cabin.
“These are for you,” he said quietly. “For getting better. For scaring me half to death. And to come back.”
Her expression melted despite herself. “You didn’t have to”
“I wanted to,” he interrupted gently.
She picked up the bouquet, fingers brushing over the petals. “If my brothers see this, they’ll interrogate you.”
Aayansh chuckled. “I’ve survived worse. I think I can handle a few questions.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in it. “You shouldn’t be here. What if someone sees?”
“I came officially,” he replied calmly. “Work related visit.” Then, lowering his voice, he added, “And for unofficially… boyfriend duties.”
Her cheeks warmed instantly. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re stubborn,” he countered. His gaze softened as he studied her face. “Are you really okay?”
She hesitated just for a moment then nodded. “I am. I promise. No dizziness. No fever.”
“Any headaches?”
“Only when people lecture me,” she said pointedly.
He laughed, shaking his head. “I told you to rest more.”
“And I told you I’m fine.”
They stared at each other for a second, the unspoken worry lingering between them. Then Aayansh sighed and reached out, lightly tapping her forehead with his knuckle.
“Just… don’t push yourself,” he said softly. “Not again.”
Her expression was gentle. “I won’t.”
A knock sounded on the door.
Ruhi jumped back slightly, straightening. “Yes?”
The door opened, and a colleague peeked in. “Ma’am, Rishabh sir is here, asking if you’re free .”
Her heart skipped. “Tell him I’ll be there.”
As the door closed again, Aayansh raised an eyebrow. “Rishabh bhai.”
She sighed. “Yes. I don’t think I can hide it from him anymore.”
Aayansh smirked. “Relax. I’m not scared.”
She looked at him seriously. “You should be.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I’m not scared of your brother. I’m only scared of losing you.”
The sincerity in his tone made her chest ache.
Before she could say anything, he straightened again. “I’ll leave before your protective brother arrives.”
She nodded, then stopped him. “Aayansh.”
He turned.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For coming.”
He smiled warm, steady, reassuring. “Always.”
As he walked out, Ruhi watched him go, her heart lighter than it had been in days.
She picked up the bouquet again, inhaling the scent.
Work could wait.For the first time since her recovery, she felt truly okay.
As Aayansh left the Ruhis cabin Rishabh appeared. Rishabh stooped Aayansh.
what he was doing here Rishabh asked him
Aayansh lied smoothly he came for some work with the new project they are doing . Rishabh looked at him suspiciously but said ok and went inside The Ruhis office .
Ayansh saw him entering the office he released his breath which he was holding, and mumbled to himself i told Ruhi that im not afraid of her brother but still i dont know how I'm gone face Rishabh when he finds out I'm dating his sister, I'm sure he will tourter me just thinking about this I got shivers.
As Rishabh enters the Ruhis cabin he saw Ruhi was sitting with the bouquet in her hand smiling shyly he cleared his throat to get her attention.
She looked up and saw Rishabh, she froze for a second, and panic flashed across her face. In the very next moment, she stood up straight, clutching the bouquet behind her back like a caught child.
“B..Bhai,” she said quickly.
Rishabh raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from her nervous face to the flowers and back again.
“Ruhi,” he said slowly, “care to explain why you’re smiling at roses during office hours?”
Ruhi swallowed hard.
She tightened her grip on the bouquet behind her back, as if hiding it would somehow hide the truth too.
“It’s… nothing, bhai,” she said, forcing a casual tone. “Just someone from the office sent it. For work.”
She mentally face palmed.“Seriously, Ruhi. Roses? for work? What were you thinking?”
Rishabh didn’t reply immediately.
Instead, he walked closer, his footsteps slow and deliberate. He stopped in front of her desk and crossed his arms.
“For work,” he repeated, eyes fixed on her face. “Interesting. Since when do files come with roses?”
Ruhi bit her lip. “I..I”
“Ruhi,” he interrupted softly, but that softness was more dangerous than anger. “Look at me.”
She lifted her eyes.
He saw it then the nervousness, the glow she couldn’t hide, the way she was holding herself like someone who had something precious to protect.
His jaw tightened.
“You’ve been different lately,” he continued. “Before the hospital, I noticed it. After the hospital, everyone noticed it. You smile at your phone. You get quiet when someone mentions certain names.”
He paused, letting the words sink in.
“And now this.”
He reached out and gently pulled the bouquet from behind her back, examining it for a moment before placing it on the table.
“Tell me the truth,” he said firmly. “Is there someone in your life?”
Ruhi’s heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
She opened her mouth, closed it, then finally whispered, “Yes.” but shaked her head in no
The word hung heavy in the air.
Rishabh exhaled slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “How long?”
“Since Aadi bhai’s wedding,” she replied honestly.
“Who is he?”
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. This was the moment she feared the most.
Before she could stop herself, the name slipped out. “Aayansh.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Rishabh didn’t shout. He didn’t react at all.
And that scared her more than anything.
“Aayansh,” he repeated slowly, testing the name on his tongue.
“The same Aayansh who keeps showing up at the hospital,” he continued, voice unreadable. “The same Aayansh who somehow always knows when you’re not okay.”
Ruhi nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. “Yes.”
Rishabh turned away and walked toward the window, hands inside his pocket looking out of the window. For a long moment, he said nothing.
Ruhi’s breath trembled. “Bhai… please don’t be angry.”
He finally spoke, his back still to her. “I’m not angry.”
He turned around, eyes sharp but controlled.
“I’m disappointed,” he said. “Not because you’re in love. But because you thought you had to hide it from me.”
Tears slipped down Ruhi’s cheeks. “I was scared. Not of you… but for him.”
That made Rishabh pause.
“For him?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, wiping her tears quickly. “I know you’ll never tell me to break up. But I also know you’ll test him. You’ll question him. You’ll push him.”
She looked straight at him, voice shaking but honest. “And I was scared you’d hurt him without meaning to.”
Rishabh studied her face not as a boss, not as an elder brother, but as the man who had raised her through her worst days.
Finally, he sighed.
“If he’s chosen you,” Rishabh said quietly, “then he should be strong enough to face me.”
Ruhi looked up, hope flickering in her eyes.
“But listen carefully,” he added, his tone firm again. “If he ever gives you even a single reason to cry”
“He won’t,” Ruhi said immediately.
Rishabh raised his eyebrows, stopping her. “If he ever does,” he finished, “I won’t forgive him.”
He picked up the bouquet and placed it back into her hands.
“Ask him to come and meet me ,” he said simply. “’ll talk with him Properly.”
Ruhi’s breath caught.
“You… you want to meet him?”
Rishabh nodded once. “It’s time.”He said and left the office
As Ruhi held the roses close to her chest, she realized something:
The real test for Aayansh hadn’t begun yet.
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