Zoya just step out of the house when her phone started ringing.
She stopped at mid step.
The phone lit up, "Mom"
A soft smile appears on her lips, she swipe up the call
Hello mom.
Hello sweetu , how are you.
While talking zoya starts walking along the side of road. Maintaining her dress while walking, as evening breeze brush past her.
I am fine mom, do you know mom I got selected for the internship .
"Really " her mother's voice brightens
Yes, soya said proudly. I am assisting a senior doctor, it's a home visit case... and it is really going well.
I am proud of you sweetu .
Those words -
Simple
Sweet
Soft, but those stayed
Zoya's smile deepened without her even realizing it.
"Thank you, mom," she said quietly.
They talked for a few more minutes.
Nothing important.
Nothing dramatic.
Just small things.
Food.
Daily routine.
Her sister's studies.
The kind of conversation that didn't need effort.
The kind that made everything feel… normal.
Like home.
"Take care of yourself," Zoya said softly as the conversation came to an end.
"You too, sweetu," her mother replied.
Zoya was about to hang up—
but something about her mother's voice made her pause for a second.
It sounded… a little tired.
Not enough to question.
But enough to notice.
"…Mom , are you okay?" she asked lightly.
"I'm fine," her mother replied quickly. "Just a little tired. Don't worry."
Zoya hesitated for a moment.
Then nodded to herself.
"Okay. Rest well."
The call ended.
For a few seconds, Zoya stood still.
Looking at her phone.
Then she shook her head slightly and continued walking.
Maybe she was overthinking.
The next few days passed quietly smoothly.
Almost too smoothly.
Zoya continued visiting the house every day.Same time.same routine
Her presence slowly became familiar.
Not just expected—
but waited for.
"Doctor comes?" the staff would say the moment she entered.
A small smile would appear on her face every time.
Inside the room—
Armaan's father would already be sitting up, a little more energetic with each passing day.
"You're late today," he said once, checking the clock.
Zoya blinked in surprise.
"I'm just five minutes late," she replied, amused.
"Still late," he said, but there was a faint smile in his voice.It wasn't a complaint.
Just… habit.
The bond had formed quietly.Without effort.
Between medicines, small talks, and daily check-ups—
comfort had settled in.
Zoya would explain things patiently.
Remind him about meals.
Adjust his medicines.
Sometimes even ask about his routine.
And he—
he listened.
More than he did to others.
He started noticing the small things.
The way she entered the room.
The way she spoke calmly even in simple conversations.
The way she made everything feel easy.Five days passed like that.
Calm.
Steady.
Predictable.
On the sixth day—
Armaan called.
His father picked up immediately.How are you now?" Armaan asked, his voice softer than usual.
"I'm fine," his father replied " Much better".Armaan leaned back slightly in his chair.That's good.
A small pause.
Then—
"That doctor I told you about…"
Armaan stayed silent.
Listening.
"She's still coming," his father continued, a faint smile forming on his face. "Very sweet girl. Takes care of everything properly."
Armaan's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
Unconsciously.
"I see," he replied.
"I wish…" his father let out a small chuckle, "I had a daughter like her."
That made Armaan smile faintly.
"You're getting too attached, Dad."
"Maybe," his father admitted.
Then, in a slightly teasing tone—
"So when are you planning to get married?"
Armaan let out a small breath, shaking his head.
"Not again, Dad."
"Why not?" his father insisted lightly. "You're not getting younger."
"Let's not start this now," Armaan said, brushing it off casually.
A pause followed.
"I'll come home after the award function," he added after a moment.
His tone changed slightly.
More certain.
"Then I'll meet her too."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"And I'll see how well she's taking care of you."
His father laughed softly.
"I'm waiting."
The call ended.
Back at the house—Zoya stood near the table, carefully arranging the medicines in order.
Morning.
Afternoon.
Night.
Her movements were precise.Focused
She checked each strip twice, making sure nothing was missed.
Just then—
her phone rang again.She picked it up without checking the screen.
"Hello?"
"Didi…"
The moment she heard her sister's voice—something felt off.
It was rushed.
Unsteady.
Zoya's expression changed instantly.
"What happened?"
"Mom isn't well," her sister said quickly. "I'm taking her to the hospital."
Everything around Zoya—
stopped.
Her fingers froze mid-motion.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"What?" she said, her voice dropping. "What happened suddenly?"
"I don't know… she's just not okay."
That was enough.
Zoya's grip on the phone tightened.
Her mind started racing.Too fast.
Too many thoughts at once.
"I'm coming," she said immediately.
No hesitation.No second thought.
The call ended.
For a moment—she just stood there.
Still.
Frozen.
Then reality hit all at once.
Her bag.
Her phone.
Her steps.
Everything moved quickly.
But her thoughts—
were scattered.
Worried.
Uneasy.
The calm from the past few days—
gone.Completely.
Armaan's father noticed immediately.
He had been watching her from the bed.
The sudden change in her expression.
The way her hands stopped working.
The tension in her voice.
"What happened, beta?" he asked gently.Zoya turned toward him, trying to stay composed.
"My mother… she's not well," she said, her voice controlled but slightly unsteady. "They're taking her to the hospital."
Concern filled his face instantly.
"Go," he said softly. "You should be with her."Zoya nodded.
But she didn't move immediately.
For a split second—something held her back.
Responsibility.
Duty.
The patient in front of her.
Then—The patient in front of her.
Then—
she picked up the prescription, quickly explaining the medicine timings to the staff.
"Give this on time," she said, her voice faster than usual. "And call the doctor if anything feels off.""ok mam," the staff replied.
Only then did she step back.
"Take care," she said softly, almost automatically.
"Don't worry," he reassured her. "Everything will be fine."
Zoya nodded.
But her eyes didn't fully believe it.
Within minutes—she was out of the house.Walking fast.Almost rushing.
Her heart beating louder with every step.
Her phone clutched tightly in her hand.
Somewhere else—
Armaan sat in his office, unaware.
Unaware that the same house he planned to visit soon—had just seen someone walk out of it in a hurry.
Unaware that the person his father kept mentioning—
was now running toward a completely different problem.
Zoya stepped onto the road, trying to find transport, her mind filled with one thought only—Mom.Everything else faded.The house.The patient.The calm routine.Everything .Nothing mattered right now except reaching her.
The evening turned heavier without warning.
The kind that doesn't give time to prepare.One moment everything is normal and the next—everything shifts.
Zoya didn't stop walking.
She didn't slow down.
She didn't look back.