In the heart of chaos

Chapter 22

Aarohi sat at her desk, catching up on patient reports when there was a sudden knock at her door. She looked up, somewhat surprised to see Rishi Malhotra standing in the doorway, arms crossed, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"What do you want, Malhotra?" Aarohi asked, already bracing herself for whatever banter or fight he was about to provoke.

He strolled in casually, leaning against the edge of her desk. "Well, as much as I enjoy watching you frown at paperwork, I'm here with an invitation," he said, his tone irritatingly smug.

Aarohi raised an eyebrow. "An invitation? To what? A 'How to Be Annoying' workshop?"

Rishi chuckled. "Very funny, Dr. Goenka. No, I'm here to invite you to a real event. My parents' 40th wedding anniversary. It's this Saturday."

Aarohi blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "You're inviting me... to your parents' anniversary party?"

"Yeah. It's at our family home, nothing too grand, just a gathering of close family and friends," Rishi replied, his tone casual but his eyes watching her reaction closely.

Aarohi narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "And why, exactly, would I want to go to your family event?"

Rishi shrugged nonchalantly. "Because, as much as you pretend to hate me, we're colleagues. And my mother insists I invite the people I work with. Plus, I know you're not going to turn down free food."

Aarohi crossed her arms, giving him a skeptical look. "You're inviting me just because your mother said so?"

"Well, yeah, and also because I thought it'd be fun to see you outside of the hospital for once," Rishi added with a smirk. "You know, without all the scalpel talk."

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "As if I'd come anywhere near a social gathering where you're the host."

"C'mon, Goenka," Rishi pressed, his grin widening. "I know deep down you're curious. Besides, you'd probably enjoy bantering with me in a non-professional setting."

"I already get enough of that here," Aarohi shot back, leaning back in her chair. "Why would I subject myself to more?"

"Because you secretly like our banter," Rishi teased. "And I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss the chance to meet my charming family."

Aarohi scoffed. "Charming family? Please, Malhotra. I'm sure they're wondering how you even managed to get through medical school with that ego of yours."

Rishi laughed, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Touché, but trust me, my family isn't as bad as you think. In fact, they might even like you."

"Like me?" Aarohi raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure they'll be wondering why you brought your biggest rival to a family function."

He shrugged again, his grin never faltering. "Maybe. Or maybe they'll be impressed that I brought the best neurosurgeon in Udaipur."

Aarohi couldn't help the slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Flattery won't work, Malhotra."

"It's not flattery if it's true," he said, standing up straight and handing her a formal-looking invitation. "Look, I'm just saying, come. If not for me, at least for the food."

She took the invitation, glancing at it briefly before setting it on her desk. "Fine, I'll think about it."

Rishi's grin widened. "Great. I'll see you there then."

"I said I'd think about it, not that I'm coming," Aarohi corrected him, rolling her eyes again.

"Oh, you'll come. I know you, Goenka. You won't be able to resist."

Before she could respond, Rishi turned and strolled out of her office, leaving Aarohi staring after him, shaking her head in disbelief.

As much as she hated to admit it, the idea of seeing Rishi outside the hospital, in a completely different setting, was intriguing. And as much as she wanted to refuse, a part of her was already considering what she'd wear to the anniversary party.

Still, Aarohi couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. Something told her this party was going to be much more eventful than either of them realized.