In the heart of chaos

Chapter 9

Rishi Malhotra parked his car in the driveway of his family home, the soft glow of evening sunlight casting a golden hue over the house. He stepped out, taking a deep breath of the crisp air, feeling the tension of his workday slowly fading away. As much as being co-head of neurosurgery at Sarvodaya Hospital challenged him, home was where he found peace—well, most of the time.

He opened the front door and was immediately greeted by chaos.

"Rishiii!" Prisha's voice shrieked from the living room, followed by the unmistakable sound of a pillow hitting the floor.

Rishi barely had time to brace himself before his younger sister, Isha, came barreling toward him, arms flailing wildly. Behind her, Ekansh was chasing both of them, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"Are you all five years old?" Rishi groaned as he dropped his bag near the door and dodged Isha, who was trying to throw herself into his arms for protection. "Seriously, every day with you three!"

Prisha, the youngest at 18 but already acting like she ruled the house, stood on the couch with a pillow in hand, her face flushed from the excitement. "He started it!" she yelled, pointing dramatically at Ekansh.

Ekansh, at 22, raised his hands defensively, his grin never fading. "I was just trying to get my phone back! Prisha stole it again."

"Well, you deserve it for stealing my charger!" Prisha shot back.

Rishi shook his head, exasperated. "You're both ridiculous." He turned to Isha, his 20-year-old sister, who was giggling uncontrollably. "And what's your excuse?"

"I'm just here for the entertainment," Isha replied, flashing a cheeky smile. "Besides, someone has to keep the peace."

"Yeah, right," Rishi muttered, making his way to the kitchen, where the familiar scent of spices filled the air.

Kaushiki Malhotra, his mother, stood at the stove, stirring a pot while humming softly to herself. She turned around as soon as she heard Rishi approach, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

"Rishi beta, you're home! How was your day?" she asked, wiping her hands on a towel and stepping forward to give him a hug.

Rishi smiled, hugging her back. "Long, as usual, but manageable."

"Well, dinner will be ready soon," Kaushiki said, returning to the stove. "Your father will be back in a few minutes. He's just picking up some groceries."

Rishi nodded, appreciating the quiet moment with his mom, before the sound of something crashing in the living room interrupted them.

"For heaven's sake, can't you three behave for one night?" Rishi shouted toward the living room.

"Not a chance!" Ekansh yelled back, laughing.

Kaushiki chuckled softly. "You know they're impossible to control. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Rishi sighed, running a hand through his hair. His siblings, despite being adults—or close to it—were still like overgrown kids. Their house was always filled with noise, laughter, and bickering, but it was what made it home. As much as they drove him crazy, he loved them fiercely.

A few minutes later, the front door opened, and Rajveer Malhotra walked in, carrying bags of groceries. He placed them on the kitchen counter and smiled at his son.

"Rishi! Good to see you, my boy. How's work? Still fighting it out with your co-head?" Rajveer asked with a wink, referring to the stories Rishi had shared about his constant bickering with Aarohi Goenka.

Rishi rolled his eyes, already feeling the frustration rise at the mere mention of Aarohi's name. "You have no idea, Dad. It's like she lives to contradict me."

Rajveer chuckled, patting his son on the back. "That's how it is when you've got two strong personalities working together. You'll figure it out."

"I'm not so sure," Rishi muttered. "It's only been a few days, but she's already driving me insane."

Kaushiki, overhearing the conversation, chimed in with a knowing smile. "Sometimes the people who irritate you the most are the ones who challenge you to grow, Rishi. Don't be too quick to judge."

Rishi leaned against the counter, feeling a mix of irritation and exhaustion. He was good at his job, and he'd worked hard to earn his position at Sarvodaya. But Aarohi Goenka—she was different. She was stubborn, brilliant, and far too confident for her own good. And their constant back-and-forth arguments were becoming exhausting.

As if reading his thoughts, Rajveer smiled gently. "Just remember, son, every challenge is an opportunity. Whether it's your work or your siblings causing chaos, it's all part of the bigger picture."

Rishi looked back at the living room, where his siblings were still engrossed in their pillow war. Prisha was now standing victoriously on the couch, waving Ekansh's phone in the air like a trophy. Ekansh, pretending to be defeated, collapsed dramatically onto the floor while Isha laughed from the sidelines.

Rishi shook his head with a smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Dinner that night, as usual, was a lively affair. The Malhotra family gathered around the table, with Rajveer leading the conversation and Kaushiki keeping everyone fed. Prisha, Isha, and Ekansh continued their playful bickering, but there was an underlying warmth that held the family together.

For all the chaos, Rishi knew he was lucky. He had a family who loved him, supported him, and grounded him. No matter how tough his days at the hospital were, coming home to this—his family—made it all worthwhile.

And maybe, just maybe, his father was right. Perhaps even Aarohi, with all her infuriating quirks, was part of the challenge that would make him a better surgeon, a better leader, and a better person.

But that didn't mean he'd stop arguing with her. He wasn't about to let Aarohi Goenka have the last word—not at Sarvodaya Hospital, and certainly not in his life.