𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒

10 : bipolar

Pain. That’s the first thing I felt when I woke up. A dull ache in my back, sharp stings from the wounds on my hands. My body protested every movement, but my mind was stuck on one thing—was that child safe?

As the memories of the accident rushed back, another thought crept in. Advik.

I had spoken to him last night, and for the first time, he wasn’t his usual arrogant self. He had been… calm. Too calm. Just yesterday, he was basking in his own ego, acting untouchable. What changed?

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. The doctor walked in, looking young—mid-20s, maybe 25.

"Advantika, you need rest. Once you're stable, we'll shift you to a new ward." He hesitated before continuing, rubbing the back of his neck. "Also… can I ask you something?"

I frowned slightly. "Yeah?"

"There was a man here all night. Didn’t sleep, barely sat still, caused quite a scene."

I swallowed, already knowing the answer. "Who?"

"I think his name was Advik."

My breath hitched. Advik? Here? Staying all night? Sure, I expected him to cause chaos, but staying by my side? That didn’t fit the version of him I knew.

Before I could even process it, the door opened.

And there he was.

Dressed in his signature suit, looking as composed as ever. But the moment his eyes landed on me, something flickered in them. Worry? Concern?

No, that couldn’t be right.

(He smiled at first, but it faded quickly. His sharp gaze traced over my pale skin, the tubes running from my arm, the weakness in my expression. Something in his posture shifted, stiffened—like he didn’t like what he was seeing.)

The doctor leaned in slightly, his voice teasing. "I think he likes you. Maybe you should make him your husband. He looked completely broken last night."

Heat rushed to my face. What?

(Advik’s brows furrowed. His jaw tensed. Why the hell was she blushing? And what did that doctor just whisper to her?)

"Alright, Advantika, take care. If you need anything, just press the bell." The doctor winked before leaving.

I couldn’t help but giggle. He was purposely teasing Advik.

But Advik? He wasn’t amused.

"What’s going on?" His voice was sharp, his gaze unreadable.

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "Nothing serious. He just told me to take care and not be reckless."

A slow nod. A flicker of something in his eyes before his usual coldness took over.

"Don’t overthink why I’m here," he said, his tone arrogant. "I just don’t want to ruin my image in front of the media."

I scoffed. Oh, really?

"Suniye," I said, my voice weak but firm. "I never asked you to come. You were the one desperate to be here first. So don’t argue with me."

His jaw clenched, but he said nothing. The silence between us grew thick until the nurse walked in to change my saline.

"When will she be discharged?" Advik asked, his voice sharp.

The nurse hesitated, intimidated. "Tomorrow."

Why does everyone get scared of him? He’s not a mafia don.

I sighed. "Don’t worry. I’ve never troubled you before, and I won’t now," I muttered under my breath.

His gaze snapped to me. "Glad," he said dryly.

Grumpy buffalo.

The tension between us was suffocating. The nurse looked like she wanted to disappear.

"Ouch!" I winced as the injection pierced my skin.

Advik flinched. His whole demeanor changed in an instant. His eyes showed something but cahned instantly, his fists clenched. "Be careful! She’s in pain," he snapped at the nurse, his voice laced with anger.

The nurse nodded quickly, avoiding his gaze.

I rolled my eyes. "Hum itna dard seh sakte hain. Hum koi murjhi hui kali thodi na hain."

Wait. Since when did I start addressing myself as "hum" in front of him?

His lips curled slightly. "Haan haan, I saw."

I scoffed. What else did I expect?

Instead of asking how I felt, he chose to stay in his cold, detached persona. But last night—last night, he was different.

"Recover quickly. The company is overloaded with work and designs," he said flatly, turning to leave.

I clenched my jaw. "Haan thik hai! As if that was necessary! Couldn’t leave without taunting me, huh?" I muttered.

The door shut behind him.

"Naak pe gussa leke chal raha hai!"

I don’t understand myself when it comes to her.

I don’t care for attention. Never have. Never needed it.

But hers?

I crave it. I want her to look at me, to talk to me, to need me.

And yet, every time she does, I push her away. Why?

Why does it bother me when she laughs with someone else?

Why did it burn when she blushed because of that doctor?

And why—why the hell did he wink at her in front of me?

I clenched my fists as I watched him leave, smirking. Akdu doctor.

This wasn’t like me.

I needed to figure out what was happening to me.

And more than that—

I needed to figure out what the hell she was doing to me.