TANGLED SOULS

To your eternity -5

It was half past six when Abhimanyu Birla strode to the main elevators of the Birla hospital, shaking his head at the delay. He was supposed to finish his shift sharp at 6pm and leave with Akshara but he was held up by a last minute emergency. Hence, he asked his brother to pick her up at the hospital, half an hour ago before leaving to treat his patient. Now, half an hour later, he could finally take his leave.

He scrolled his phone as he waited for the elevator's doors to open, replying to his little sister's text who was warning him to be there before seven and his mother asking him which cake to choose for Akshara, between Chocolate truffle and Black Forest—he smiled and replied Black Forest. She loved chocolate cakes. No actually, she could eat anything if there's chocolate. Finally, there's a message of Kairav, asking him who's gonna bring Akshu to the party without her suspecting anything. He thought about it for a moment before asking if Bade Papa can take care of it as he knew that the chances of her guessing anything from Bade Papa were low. The elevator opened and he stepped in without looking up while reading Kairav's reply. He glanced up then, only to be surprised of the person in front of him.

- "Dr. Arohi?" He said surprised and checked his watch as he knew interns were supposed to leave early that day.

She gave him a greeting smile which he returned by a tight-lipped one and mentally cursed his fate to run into her now out of anytime. Not that he had anything against her but as he recalled their last interaction, he wished he took the stairs instead.

***
Flashback : Two days ago...

Abhi just got back from a surgery and was reading a patient's file when his mother called him.

- "Hi Maa," He greeted with a smile, "Before you ask if I ate on time, yes. I did."

- "Hi Abhi," He frowned at the lack of enthusiasm in his mom's voice.

- "What is it, Maa? Are you okay?"

- "Beta, are you free right now?" Manjiri Birla asked hesitantly and he immediately reassured her that it was indeed his break and asked her to video call him to make sure everything was alright. She did as she was told and reassured her worried son that everyone was perfectly fine.

- "Abhi, I called you for something else, actually" He nodded attentively and he glanced at his father's grave expression through the video call.

- "What is it, Dad?" He shifted his attention when his Maa handed him the phone.

- "Abhi, you know Arohi Shekhwat, right? An intern in your team."

He raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway, "Well, she's here at our home, with her father, Mr. Shekhawat..." Harshwardhan Birla paused and looked up from the phone while Abhi guessed that they were seated there. But why?

His father answered his unasked question, "...for a rishta proposal, Beta." Abhi's eyes widened slightly but he kept mum letting his father finish, hoping that his answer was same as his. Harshwardhan stared at his son seriously as he uttered his next words. "Your mother and I know what's in your heart, Abhi. And nothing will happen against your wish." As his father smiled softly, he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. "Not that you'll let it happen anyway." He teased lightly and Abhi grinned.

- "But, Mr. Shekhawat's daughter, Arohi wants to hear the answer from your mouth. So we called you for that." He explained further as he glanced at his guests before returning his attention back to his son.

Abhi smiled understandingly at his father. "Sure, Dad. Can you hand the phone to Arohi, please?"

And that's how the next minute, Abhimanyu was face to face with Arohi Shekhawat, a resident of Birla hospital who's joined his team only a few months ago. He wondered how was it possible to go to his house for a marriage proposal when she barely knew him for four months, and especially without him having a clue about it. How did he missed it? He wondered as he thought back about his interactions with her. Right, who was he kidding, his eyes were only one girl so how'll he even look at any other girl. He shook his head and retuned his focus back to her.