Lost and found hearts: A tale of first love.

You and I.

Kriti stepped out of her car and walked into the hospital, the place that had become her second home over the years. The building was an impressive model, a towering structure of glass and steel, reflecting the early morning sun. Inside, the hospital buzzed with activity—nurses rushing to and fro, patients being wheeled down the corridors, and the steady sound of medical equipment creating a rhythmic background noise.

As Kriti made her way to the coffee station in the lobby, she took in the familiar surroundings. The walls were lined with amazing artwork, carefully chosen to bring a sense of calm to those who entered. The air smelled faintly of medicines, mixed with the rich aroma of fresh coffee. Grabbing a cup, she nodded to a few colleagues passing by, exchanging quick greetings.

With her coffee in hand, Kriti moved through the halls, stopping briefly to check in with a few doctors and medical students. She offered a word of encouragement here, a bit of advice there—her presence was that of a steady leader in the fast-paced environment. Finally, she headed toward the pediatric wing, her thoughts turning to her young patient. As she approached the room, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for the day ahead. The hospital might be the best in Mumbai, but it was the people inside who made it truly exceptional, and Kriti was proud to be a part of it.

As the day drew to a close, Kriti finally saw Aarav bounding down the hallway, a wide grin on his face. He had just finished his medical tests, and the sight of him running toward her filled her with relief and happiness. 

"Kriti Di!" Aarav called out, his small arms outstretched as he ran into her embrace.

"Hey, champ!" Kriti laughed, hugging him tightly. "You did great today. I'm so proud of you."

After checking his reports and having a quick word with his parents, Kriti watched as Aarav climbed into bed, still full of energy despite the long day. As soon as he was settled under the covers, his eyes locked onto hers with an eager expression.

"Kriti di," he whispered, leaning closer. "Will you tell me more about Shaurya tonight?"

Kriti smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. "I promised, didn't I? But first, I have to finish my shift. I'll be back soon, okay?"

Aarav nodded, a little disappointed, but he knew she would keep her word. Later that evening, as the hospital quieted down, Kriti returned to Aarav's room. The lights were dimmed, and the soft hum of the air conditioning was the only sound as she pulled up a chair beside his bed.

"Alright, where did we leave off?" she asked, settling in.

"You were telling me about how you met Shaurya and became friends," Aarav reminded her, his eyes bright with anticipation.

Kriti nodded. "Yes, that's right. So, after three months of talking online, Shaurya and I decided to meet in person. It was scary at first—I'd never met anyone online before. But since we lived close to each other, we thought, why not? And when we finally met, it was... like love at first sight. We started hanging out more, and before we knew it, we were catching feelings for each other."

Aarav listened intently, hanging on to every word.

"One day, Shaurya finally got the courage to tell me how he felt," Kriti continued, a fond smile on her lips. "And, of course, I said yes. That's when we started dating. At that time we were just kids, not knowing what we were getting ourselves into, but it all felt so right, every moment we spent together was special, even if we couldn't spend much time back then but those days were some of my most memorable days ever. It really does feel nice to be in love even if you don't know what you're doing. But that's also when things started to get messy. You see, our parents didn't know about us, and both of them were really strict. We got caught three times, and each time, it was my parents who caught me."

Aarav's eyes widened. "What happened then?"

That's where things got really complicated," Kriti said, her voice softening. "But I think that's a story for tomorrow night. It's getting late, and I want you to have some time to think about everything I've told you so far."

Aarav pouted a little, clearly wanting to hear more, but he nodded in agreement. "Okay, Kriti di. But you have to promise you'll tell me the rest tomorrow."

Kriti chuckled and kissed his forehead. "I promise. Now, get some sleep, alright?"

Aarav sighed but smiled as he closed his eyes, his mind already racing with thoughts of her story. Kriti watched him for a moment before quietly leaving the room, her heart heavy with memories she hadn't revisited in years. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn't help but wonder how much of that story she was ready to share, and how much she was still keeping to herself.