cross road

Chapter-5

Raghav drove along the bumpy mud road, his mind racing as he thought about the new doctor he was supposed to pick up from the railway station. When he finally reached the highway, he glanced over to see Pallavi fast asleep, her head resting against the car window. A rush of possessiveness surged within him; despite the safety of his town and his belief in women's independence, he felt an overwhelming urge to protect her.

His mother had mentioned that the position had been vacant for over a year. The government hospital in their small village had struggled to attract doctors, especially young ones, and Raghav had expected a man to fill the role. To his surprise, Pallavi looked like a college student—hardly what he imagined when he thought of a new physician.

As he pulled into the driveway of his home, he waited for her to wake, but she remained in her dream world. Raghav called her name several times and even tried coughing loudly, but nothing seemed to stir her. Frustrated, he pressed the horn, which jolted her awake. Rubbing her eyes, she rolled them before stepping out of the car and heading to grab her luggage.

"Thanks for picking me up. If you could hand over the key, I'll take it from here," she said, without giving him a chance to ask about her journey.

Raghav hesitated, feeling an instinctual need to help her more, but he handed over the key as she made her way to the guesthouse behind their home.

Pallavi's heart sank as she approached the guesthouse. It was modest and lacked the warmth of a home. Everything felt empty and quiet. Overwhelmed, she focused on securing the house first, closing all the windows tightly before arranging the bed sheets.

When she stepped into the hall to check her luggage, she realized she had forgotten the food Aarav had packed for her in her rush. Sighing, she sank into the small sofa, exhaustion overtaking her.

Just as she dozed off, a knock on the door startled her. Heart racing, she grabbed a knife from the kitchen and approached cautiously. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.

"Pallavi, it's me, Raghav," he replied.

Relieved but still on edge, she opened the door. Raghav entered, closing it behind him and taking in the condition of the house. "I was in a bad mood when I saw you alone at the station. I didn't realize the new doctor was a woman. I'm really sorry for being late," he said, extending his hand to reveal a piece of cake.

"This is my peace offering. It's all I have," he added with an awkward smile.

Pallavi couldn't help but smile back, feeling a warmth toward him. Spotting a candle in the kitchen, she ran to grab it, setting it on the cake. She closed her eyes for a moment, whispering a prayer for her uncle's safety before blowing it out. "As you offered a cake, I'll forgive you. But just know you're running on thin ice," she teased.

Raghav laughed, a genuine smile breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. "Do you always blow out candles before eating cake, or is this some sort of housewarming tradition?"

Pallavi made a face, playfully shrugging. "You can imagine whatever you want."

Their banter felt strange yet refreshing for Raghav. Known for his cold demeanor toward women, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. Not wanting to linger, he started to leave, but Pallavi called him back.

"Wait, come to the kitchen," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Curiosity piqued, he followed her. To his surprise, she pulled out a first aid kit and began tending to his bruises. He tried to protest, but a single stern look from her silenced him. She cleaned his wounds and applied a bandage to his knuckles.

"Next time you get into a fight, make sure to dodge your head," she quipped, her focus entirely on her task.

Raghav was entranced as she worked, a smirk playing on his lips at her words. "Good advice," he said, feeling an unexpected warmth toward her.

Once she finished, he bid her good night, closing the door behind him as he left. Raghav's heart felt lighter, even as the weight of the circumstances loomed over them both. In the quiet of the night, he couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to intertwine in ways they never expected.