In this way, almost every day, Yalini goes to meet Dhruv, making it a quiet part of her routine that she doesn't even question anymore, something that has slowly blended into the rhythm of her everyday life without her even noticing when it became so important.
Slowly, a bond of friendship begins to grow between them, something gentle, unspoken, and yet deeply felt, a connection that doesn't need words to be understood, as if both of them can sense it in the silence between their conversations.
These days, visiting Dhruv at the hospital has almost become a habit for Yalini, something her heart looks forward to without her even realizing it, something that pulls her there again and again with a quiet insistence she cannot explain.
Today, once again, Yalini is on her way to meet Dhruv at the hospital, her steps carrying a sense of familiarity, yet somewhere deep inside, a soft anticipation lingers, making her heartbeat just a little faster than usual.
After finishing her office work, Yalini goes straight to the hospital, not even pausing anywhere in between, as if there is nothing else in that moment that matters more than reaching there.
When she reaches there, she sees Dhruv sitting alone, quietly staring out of the window, lost in his thoughts, as if the world outside holds answers he cannot quite find, or perhaps questions he cannot quite escape.
Yalini clears her throat, pretending to cough, just to get his attention, a small playful habit she has unknowingly developed over the past few days.
"Ahem… ahem…"
Dhruv shifts his gaze away from the window and looks towards the door, his expression changing the moment he notices her presence, a softness instantly replacing the distant look in his eyes.
"Oh, it's you!
Come in."
Seeing Yalini, Dhruv feels genuinely happy, a warmth appearing on his face that is hard to miss, as if her presence alone is enough to lighten his mood.
Whenever Yalini comes, he enjoys talking to her, spending time with her—it brings him a quiet kind of happiness, something calm and comforting, something that makes the long hours feel shorter.
Yalini walks in and sits on the chair beside him, the space between them now feeling familiar and easy, without any hesitation or discomfort.
"So, tell me, how are you?" Yalini asks, her tone light yet caring, her eyes quietly observing him.
"Looks like you finally remembered this friend today?" Dhruv replies playfully, instead of answering her question, his eyes holding a teasing spark that makes the moment feel lighter.
Yalini feels a little embarrassed and says,
"No, it's not like that… I had a bit of work pressure, so I couldn't come for two days.
So, will Mr. Dhruv forgive this friend of his?" she adds jokingly, trying to cover up that slight awkwardness with humor.
Dhruv laughs and says,
"Alright, I forgive you," his voice easy and warm, carrying no trace of complaint.
"By the way, why are you so quiet today? And no book in your hand? What's the matter?" Yalini asks curiously, noticing the small difference that didn't go unnoticed by her.
Dhruv replies,
"Nothing like that. Actually, I finished reading the book I was reading," his tone casual, as if it is nothing unusual.
Yalini asks again,
"So, did the hero and heroine end up together in the end?" her curiosity sounding genuine, as if she is already imagining the story in her mind.
"No… the hero wasn't that lucky. The heroine left him midway," Dhruv says, pretending to be sad, though there is a playful undertone in his voice that makes it hard to take him seriously.
"So sad," Yalini says in a slightly teasing tone, raising her brows just a little, as if she is enjoying the way he is telling it.
"What can be done? It's all destiny," Dhruv replies, shrugging lightly, as if accepting something inevitable.
Yalini jokes,
"Oh wow… destiny again?" her lips curling into a soft smile that lingers for a moment.
Then both of them burst into laughter, their laughter echoing softly in the quiet room, filling the space with warmth and ease.
After talking for quite some time, sharing small jokes and simple moments that somehow feel meaningful, suddenly Yalini says,
"Oh no!"
Dhruv gets a little worried and asks,
"What happened?" his expression turning slightly serious for a brief moment.
"Oh! I brought chicken rolls for you, and I completely forgot to give them to you.
By now, they must have gone cold," she says, sounding a little disappointed with herself.
Saying that, Yalini quickly opens her bag and takes out two chicken rolls. She hands one to Dhruv, her movements slightly hurried, as if she is trying to fix her mistake.
Taking the roll, Dhruv says jokingly,
"Suddenly so kind to me?" raising an eyebrow playfully.
"You said the other day that you really like chicken rolls.
Today when I went to have one, I suddenly remembered you. So I brought some, thinking we could eat together," Yalini replies, her tone simple yet sincere, without overthinking her words.
Dhruv teases again,
"So… you remember me?" his eyes fixed on her, waiting for her reaction with quiet curiosity.
"Why wouldn't I?
Doesn't anyone remember such a good friend?" Yalini replies, trying to sound casual, though there is a softness in her voice.
Yalini checks the roll with her hand to see if it's still warm, pressing it lightly with her fingers, as if that small detail matters more than it should.
"Well, it's still a little warm, right?" she says.
"Yes," Dhruv replies with a small nod, a faint smile still on his face.
"Then quickly eat it,
otherwise the doctor might file a case against me," she says jokingly, letting out a small laugh.
"Why?" Dhruv asks, surprised, though amused.
"Because I'm feeding you outside food," Yalini replies, laughing softly, clearly enjoying the moment.
Hearing this, Dhruv laughs too, and soon both of them start laughing together, their laughter blending naturally, effortlessly, as if it has always been this way.
In these few days, their bond has grown quite deep, quietly and without any effort, like something that naturally found its place between them.
They both enjoy spending time with each other, finding comfort in each other's presence, in conversations that don't feel forced, in silences that don't feel empty.
That earlier awkwardness between them is no longer there—it has faded away completely, replaced by something much softer and more real.
Yalini has almost forgotten the pain she had been carrying just a few days ago, as if these moments have slowly replaced those memories, covering them gently.
After talking for a long time, sharing thoughts, laughter, and comfortable silence, Yalini finally says,
"I should go now. It's already quite late.
They'll start worrying at home."
"I didn't even realize how time passed while talking," she adds, almost surprised by how quickly everything slipped by.
"Alright then… I'll go?" she says softly, standing up slowly, as if she is not entirely ready to leave yet.
Dhruv nods in agreement, his expression calm, yet there is something unspoken in his eyes, something that lingers quietly.
Then Yalini leaves from there, her steps slow, almost hesitant, as if a part of her is still inside that room.
After that, Yalini gets busy with her daily routine again, and because of that, she hasn't gone to the hospital to meet Dhruv for the last five days, even though sometimes, unexpectedly, his thoughts cross her mind without warning.
Today, while returning from office, she suddenly notices a man holding a novel in his hand.
It is the same novel that Dhruv was reading that day and had already finished.
The moment she sees the book, Dhruv comes to her mind, as if the memory had been waiting quietly for something to bring it back.
Without thinking much, she goes into a bookstore and buys another romantic novel, choosing it carefully, as if it holds some meaning she doesn't fully understand.
Feeling strangely happy, with a quiet excitement in her heart, she heads straight to the hospital to meet Dhruv, her steps slightly faster than usual, her mind filled with an unspoken eagerness.
Yalini reaches the hospital and goes directly to Dhruv's room, her heart beating a little faster, though she doesn't fully understand why.
But the moment she stands at the door and looks inside…
all her happiness disappears in an instant.
Her smile fades slowly, almost unconsciously, her eyes fixed on what she sees inside, her mind going blank for a moment, unable to process it immediately.
Something feels different.
Something feels… unexpected.
Her hand remains still on the door, her breath slightly uneven, as if she wasn't prepared for this moment at all.
For a few seconds, she just stands there, unable to move, unable to understand what she is feeling, as if time itself has paused around her.
The excitement she had just moments ago… slowly fades away, dissolving into a quiet confusion.
And in its place, a strange silence fills her heart, heavy and unfamiliar, making her chest feel tight.
She doesn't step inside immediately.
She just stands there… quietly… watching.
As if trying to make sense of something she never thought she would feel, something she cannot quite name.
Her fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the door, her gaze steady yet uncertain, as if she is afraid to look away and yet afraid to look any closer.
And in that moment, without a single word being spoken, everything seems to change—just a little.
Something invisible shifts between what was and what is, leaving behind a quiet tension that lingers in the air.
She still doesn't move.
She still doesn't speak.
She just stands there, caught in that single moment, where feelings begin to change in ways she cannot yet understand, where silence speaks louder than words, and where a simple glance can hold a thousand unspoken emotions.