HEARTS ARRANGED, LOVE DISCOVERED

CHAPTER 42: A LOVER'S BRAWL

The atmosphere in the hospital was tense as Aaru tried to capture Abhi's attention. 

She greeted him with a friendly "Hi, Abhi," but he remained immersed in teaching his interns, his expression stern and distant. Aaru's brows furrowed in concern as she attempted once more, gently inquiring, "Is everything okay, Abhi? Why are you ignoring me?"

Abhi's silence gnawed at her, and she felt a growing unease in the pit of her stomach. She touched his hand, trying to bridge the widening gap between them. "Abhi, why are you doing this? Please, speak to me."

The interns, sensing the tension, exchanged awkward glances, uncertain about whether to continue their work or slip away unnoticed. Abhi finally addressed them, instructing them to complete the lab reports before returning to him.

 He then took Aaru's hand and led her away to a small storage room at the end of the corridor. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an eerie pallor over their conversation.

"Why should I respond to you?" Abhi's voice was laced with bitterness, and he couldn't bring himself to meet Aaru's gaze.

 "Why, Aaru? You can have anything you want. You're pregnant, and you're trying to talk to me? You should be with the person whose child you're expecting."

Aaru's eyes widened in disbelief, her heart pounding in her chest. "Pregnant? What are you talking about?"

Abhi's anger only intensified. "Don't act smart. Anyways, why am I even bothering with you? You should be with the father of your child and leave me alone. Or are you looking for someone who can take responsibility for your child now that you can't find the man with whom you sullied your name? Whose bastard child you're carrying—"

Before Abhi could finish his sentence, Aaru's hand connected with his cheek in a resounding slap. The sharp sound echoed in the confined space, followed by a stunned silence.

 Aaru clenched his collar, her eyes blazing with fury, as she rebuked him, "You are a very disgusting person, Abhimanyu Birla. I came here to share the happy news that my sister is expecting, and this is what you think of me? Even if I were pregnant, this is how you would treat me? I can't believe I thought you were special to me. You're a vile person, and I want nothing to do with you."

Aaru released her grip on Abhi's collar, her anger and disappointment evident in her eyes. With one final, condemning look, she turned on her heel and left the storage room, leaving Abhi behind in a state of shock and guilt.

 He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, realizing the grave mistake he had made and the pain he had caused the woman he loved. The weight of his words and actions hung heavy in the air, leaving a palpable sense of despair in the room.