Yalini goes up to the man and sits on the chair beside him.
For a moment, she hesitates before sitting, as if unsure how to begin the conversation. Her fingers tighten slightly around the bouquet she is holding. The hospital room smells faintly of antiseptic, and the soft beeping sound of the machines fills the silence. The white walls, the dim lighting, and the stillness of the place make the moment feel heavier than it actually is.
She takes a small breath, trying to steady herself before speaking. Her heart is beating a little faster than usual, not just because of guilt, but because of an unexplainable nervousness she cannot name.
"Hello,
I'm Yalini."
Her voice is soft, yet slightly nervous, as if she is afraid of how he might react. There is a slight hesitation between her words, as if she is choosing them carefully.
The man also says hello.
His voice is calm and steady, carrying a gentle warmth that instantly puts her a little at ease. It is the kind of voice that feels reassuring, even in an unfamiliar situation.
"But I don't think I recognize you."
He looks at her with a hint of curiosity, trying to recall if he has seen her before. His eyes stay on her a moment longer than expected, as if searching for something.
Yalini, a little embarrassed, says,
She lowers her gaze for a second before speaking, gathering her courage. Her grip on the bouquet tightens slightly.
"Actually, I'm the girl because of whom you are in this condition.
Last night, your accident happened because of me.
I am so sorry for that."
Her voice trembles slightly at the end, guilt clearly visible on her face. She clutches the bouquet tighter, as if trying to hold onto something for support. The memory of last night flashes briefly in her mind, making her chest feel heavy.
"No, no, it's okay. It was my destiny."
The man smiles faintly, his expression surprisingly calm, as if he truly believes what he just said. There is no blame in his eyes, no trace of anger—only a strange acceptance.
Hearing this from him, Yalini looks a bit surprised and asks,
Her brows knit together in confusion.
"You believe in destiny?"
"Hmm… now, after seeing you, I believe in it even more," the man replies with a smile.
His words are light, yet there is something deeper hidden behind them—something Yalini cannot quite understand. The way he says it feels almost meaningful, as if there is more to it than just a casual remark.
"What do you mean?" Yalini asks.
She tilts her head slightly, trying to read his expression, but his smile makes it hard to guess what he is really thinking. There is a calm mystery in his eyes that makes her curious.
"Nothing," the man answers.
He looks away for a brief moment, as if avoiding the question. A quiet silence settles between them for a second.
Yalini hands him the bouquet of roses and says,
"This is for you."
The roses are fresh, their soft fragrance filling the space between them. The bright red petals look almost out of place in the pale hospital room.
"Oh, thank you so much."
He takes the bouquet gently, his fingers brushing hers for a split second, creating an unexpected pause in the moment. It is such a small touch, yet it lingers longer than it should.
Yalini says, "I'll leave now. We'll meet again later."
Her words come out almost instinctively, without thinking. As soon as she says it, she realizes how uncertain that statement actually is.
The man smiles and says,
"But you don't even know my name or address. How will you meet me again?"
There is a playful tone in his voice, yet his eyes remain fixed on her. His words make the situation feel lighter, but they also make her aware of the distance between strangers.
Yalini, feeling shy, says,
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't even ask your name."
A slight blush appears on her face as she realizes her mistake. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.
"I'm Dhruva Bose.
Here, take my card."
The man hands a business card to Yalini.
The card is simple yet elegant, reflecting a sense of professionalism. The clean design and neat font make it look refined.
Yalini takes it and thanks him, then leaves from there.
As she walks away, she can't help but glance back once, her thoughts lingering on his words. There is something about that brief meeting that refuses to leave her mind.
After coming out of the hospital,
the bright sunlight outside feels a bit overwhelming after the quiet atmosphere inside. The noise of the outside world suddenly feels louder, sharper.
they wait on the road for a taxi. Then Reha says,
"Hey, didn't you find that man a bit strange?
The way he was looking at you?"
Reha crosses her arms, her tone filled with curiosity and slight suspicion. She looks at Yalini as if expecting a reaction.
Yalini doesn't pay much attention to Reha's words and says,
"You suspect everything.
To me, he seemed like a well-mannered person.
And looking at this business card, it seems he has a tiles business."
Yalini says all this while showing the card to Reha.
She tries to sound casual, but a part of her is still thinking about him. Her fingers linger on the card a little longer than necessary.
Reha takes a quick look at the card and shrugs, not entirely convinced.
But she doesn't push the topic further.
After waiting for some time, they finally take a taxi and go back to their respective homes.
The city moves around them as the taxi drives forward, but Yalini remains unusually quiet, lost in her thoughts. The passing buildings blur outside the window as she stares absentmindedly.
After reaching home, Yalini goes to her room
and then freshens up before coming downstairs for lunch.
The familiar surroundings of her home feel comforting, yet her mind is still unsettled.
While eating, her mother asks,
"So, how is that man now?"
Her tone is casual, but there is a hint of concern in her eyes. She watches Yalini carefully.
"Yes, he's a little better."
Yalini answers shortly, focusing on her food. She avoids eye contact, as if hiding something she herself doesn't understand.
Yalini's mother asks again,
"Did you talk to him?"
"Yes, I did.
His name is Dhruv Bose.
He has a tiles business."
"Oh."
Her mother nods, satisfied with the answer, but she continues to observe Yalini's expression. A small smile appears on her lips, as if she senses something unspoken.
After finishing her meal, Yalini goes back to her room
and sits there thinking about the man.
She sits on the edge of her bed, the room quiet except for the faint sound of the ceiling fan. The gentle hum fills the silence.
The business card lies in her hand. She looks at it again and again, tracing the letters of his name with her fingers.
The name—Dhruv Bose—feels strangely familiar, even though she knows she has never met him before.
In her mind, she says,
"Does destiny really exist?
Or is everything just a coincidence?
Do I have any connection with him… through destiny?"
She leans back slowly, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, her thoughts drifting deeper. The white ceiling above her seems endless, just like her thoughts.
The way he spoke… the way he looked at her… the calmness in his voice—everything feels strangely familiar, yet completely new.
She closes her eyes for a moment, trying to replay the scene in her mind. Every detail, every word, every expression comes back vividly.
His words echo again—
"It was my destiny."
A soft sigh escapes her lips.
She doesn't know why, but something about this encounter feels different from anything she has experienced before.
It wasn't just a simple accident.
It didn't feel like a random meeting.
It felt… meaningful.
As if it was meant to happen.
Her fingers tighten slightly around the card again.
"What if… this is really destiny?"
The thought lingers in her mind, refusing to leave.
Outside, the world continues as usual, but inside her heart, something has quietly begun to change.
A small curiosity…
A silent pull…
An unspoken connection…
And without even realizing it,
a new story has already started unfolding in her life—one that she cannot yet understand, but somehow feels deeply connected to.
As the evening light slowly fades into night, Yalini remains lost in her thoughts, unaware that this simple meeting is only the beginning of something much bigger than she ever imagined.
Somewhere deep inside her heart, a question keeps echoing—
Was this really just a coincidence…
or the start of her destiny?
Yalini, lost in these thoughts, lies down on the bed.
On other days, since she has office, she doesn't sleep at this time—but today, for some reason, she feels very sleepy.
A strange heaviness settles over her body, as if all the thoughts in her mind have slowly turned into exhaustion. Her limbs feel relaxed, almost unwilling to move anymore.
After lying down, she closes her eyes.
Her breathing gradually slows down, becoming softer and steadier with each passing second. The quietness of the room wraps around her like a gentle blanket, making everything feel distant and calm.
And the moment she closes them, a face appears in her mind—
"Dhruv Bose."