Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

5. It Is The Same Heart

She turned her attention to Ms. Veronica, her tone polite but firm. "And hello, Ma'am," she began, her voice steady. "I have to say, I didn't expect this from you. I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but I thought someone like you -- successful and forward-thinking -- would be against discrimination of any kind. But today, you've really disappointed me."
Her voice was steady, defiant, and just the right amount of daring.

My heart nearly stopped. Was this really the same Sarah I once knew? Back then, she was quiet, timid, the kind of person who never raised her voice -- an easy bait. She used to shrink in the face of confrontation, never standing up for herself. But now, watching her hold her ground, speaking with such unwavering confidence, it felt like I was seeing a completely different person.
It was hard to believe that the girl who used to blend into the background was now taking control of a situation like this.

Nitya crossed her arms and sneered, "Who even are you? Wait a minute... aren't you the coffee girl? The one who delivers every morning? Do you honestly think, after today's nonsense, you'll still get any more orders?"

Sarah's eyes narrowed as she shot back, "So, now you're blackmailing me? All because I helped someone in need?"

Nitya scoffed. "Blackmail? Stop being so dramatic. You're making it sound like some kind of exploitation."

"Well," Sarah replied coolly, "that's exactly how you sound."

Before Nitya could respond, Ms. Veronica cut in, her tone sharp. "Can I speak with the MD, please?"

Right at that moment, the girl emerged from the restroom, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble, but it was an emergency."

Nitya's patience snapped. "Take your friend and get out of here. This isn't some public restroom that anyone can just waltz in and use."

Sarah, unfazed, calmly corrected her, "She's not my friend. She's the family member of a patient admitted here. And you're right, this isn't a public restroom -- it's a part of the hospital, where everyone deserves respect and access when they need it." Her voice grew sharper. "Honestly, what's the big deal? You're blowing this way out of proportion. No harm was done, so stop making such a fuss."

As Sarah turned to leave, Nitya quickly spoke up to Ms. Veronica, her tone dripping with condescension. "Don't worry, Ma'am. I'll arrange for another restroom. I understand you can't use this one now, given that some people just don't realize how dangerous it is to use facilities that might be contaminated. As doctors, it's our job to manage these things properly."

I rushed downstairs, eager to both apologize and thank Sarah for her help. As I reached the stairs, I saw her exchanging words with the girl, who was now expressing her gratitude. Before I could catch up, Sarah made a quick exit from the hospital, disappearing around the corner.

I continued on my way, heading toward the regular checkup of my patient. As I walked, Nitya suddenly stumbled into my path, a look of irritation on her face.

"I think you could have handled that better without all the drama," I said, glancing at my patient records.

Nitya spun around, clearly agitated. "It's my fault? She was arrogant and disrespectful. And now you're blaming me? You should be grateful for how I managed the situation. Do you even understand how crucial this project is?"

I chose to step away from the argument, feeling a pang of guilt. Nitya's harsh words stung, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. My heart ached, not just from her comments but from a deeper, more confusing pain. Was it the same heart that once beat for her or simply the heart that once felt sympathy for her?

Later that day, Dad asked me to try to lift Nitya's spirits since she had been in a gloomy mood all day. Nitya had been a friend since I first joined medical college, and while she had landed her placement last year, I only secured mine this year.

To cheer her up, I decided to take her to the nearby Burger King. We placed our order, and Nitya stepped outside to take a call. As I waited, I overheard a conversation from the table behind us.

"Isn't it absurd? In this case they should've built a restroom for each person," someone said with a touch of sarcasm.

I turned to see Sarah sitting with a friend, enjoying her burger. She continued, her tone reflecting annoyance, "The whole situation was blown out of proportion. A simple 'sorry' and 'it's okay' would've solved everything. Instead, she dragged it out unnecessarily."

I felt a pang of guilt all day, but seeing Sarah so relaxed and gossiping about the incident with her friend only made me more agitated.