Lost and found hearts: A tale of first love.

The Beginning.

On her 30th birthday, Kriti found herself surrounded by the cheerful chaos of the hospital ward. Her coworkers had organized a small celebration with a cake and balloons. Kriti had never been one to make a big deal about her birthday, especially now that she was turning 30. But this year, her coworkers at the hospital had other plans. The small party they had thrown in the pediatric ward was a welcome distraction from the usual chaos of her life. Balloons in soft pastels floated above the beds, and the walls were adorned with handmade cards from the children she had come to love as her own. The children, many of whom she had cared for over the months, were the most excited. They adored Kriti, who had a knack for making even the toughest days feel lighter.

"Happy Birthday, Dr. Kriti!" her fellow doctor, Kajal, cheered as she handed over a brightly wrapped gift."

Oh Thank you, Sweetie! You didn't have to," Kriti replied, her smile warm but her mind elsewhere.

"Oh, come on! You only turn 30 once. Besides, we can't have our favorite doctor feeling unappreciated," Kajal teased. 

Kriti laughed, trying to shake off the bittersweet feeling that had been lingering all day. The children sang her a loud, off-key version of "Happy Birthday," Kriti couldn't help but feel a pinch of joy. Despite their battles, these little ones always found a way to bring a smile to her face. As the party began to wind down, a small voice broke through the laughter. 

"Dr. Kriti?" It was Aarav, one of her young patients, who was also new in the hospital as he was recently diagnosed with cancer, yet managed to warm up to her. His big brown eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and sadness. Aarav had recently gone through his first heartbreak, a crush on a classmate that ended with a harsh rejection

"Yes, Aarav?" Kriti knelt beside him, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

"Do you believe in love?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone waited for Kriti's response. She smiled gently, her heart softening at his innocence.

 "That's a big question for such a little guy," she said, glancing around at the other children and staff. "How about I tell you after everyone goes home? It's a long story."

Aarav nodded solemnly, his young mind not fully understanding the weight of the question he'd asked. As the day drew to a close and the ward quieted down, Kriti found herself alone with Aarav, helping him settle into bed. The dim light of the room cast long shadows, and the usual hustle and bustle of the hospital had faded into a peaceful sound.

"Okay, Dr. Kriti, you promised," Aarav reminded her, his voice sleepy but determined. 

Kriti chuckled softly, sitting down beside his bed. "I did, didn't I?" She took a deep breath, her mind drifting back to a time that felt like a lifetime ago. 

"Well, my story isn't very exciting, but it's real. It's about my first love, Shaurya." Kriti sighed softly, more to herself than to him. "You know," she began, "I wasn't much older than you when I first started thinking about love. It was a long time ago, and honestly, I haven't talked about it in years. But since you asked, I'll tell you my story."

Aarav's eyes widened with interest as Kriti began to tell her tale. "Shaurya and I were very different people, but somehow, we just... clicked. We met most unexpectedly, and before we knew it, we were spending all our time together. Even when we were busy with our own lives and studies, we would always take some time out for ourselves. He was fun, always making me laugh, and we had this special connection, he was different than the other guys I had met so far, but that's what makes him special to me. Sure he too had his share of other girls, maybe even found people better than me, but no matter what happened, for me he was my everything and I was his and that's what made us different than the others. But life, as it often does, threw a lot of challenges our way."

She paused, glancing at Aarav to see if he was still awake. He was, his eyes fixed on her, hanging on every word.

"Sometimes, love isn't like the movies," Kriti continued. "It's messy, confusing, and it doesn't always go the way you want it to. Shaurya and I had our share of misunderstandings, and we were never quite sure where our relationship was headed. We had dreams, hopes, and plans, but life kept pulling us in different directions. It was hard, and sometimes it hurt a lot, especially for me.

"So, did you end up together?" Aarav asked, his voice small and hopeful. "Is he your husband now?"

Kriti smiled wistfully. "That's the part of the story that's still unfolding, Aarav. We both had to make choices and sometimes those choices didn't involve each other. But I'll tell you this—whether it's with someone else or not, love is something you'll always carry with you. It teaches you, changes you, sometimes it does but even when it doesn't last forever, it's still worth it."

"But you still haven't answered my question! I want to know whether you both ended together or not?"

Kriti smiled, though there was a trace of melancholy in it. "Ah, that's a story in itself," she said, leaning back in her chair. "It's not as simple as a yes or no. But I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you about the love we shared, the heartbreaks we faced, and the decisions that changed our lives forever." But I promise, I'll tell you everything—from the very beginning, even the parts I've never told anyone else."

Aarav nodded, "Thank you, Kriti Di," he murmured.

So she began, her voice barely above a whisper, weaving a tale of young love, unexpected challenges, and the bittersweet journey that had led her to where she was now. The chapter closed with the room filled with the soft glow of night, Aarav drifting off to sleep as Kriti's voice carried him into dreams shaped by a story that was still unfolding.