In the heart of chaos

Chapter 26

Aarohi was seated at her desk in Sarvodaya Hospital, deep in thought as she reviewed some files. The tension from the previous days had begun to weigh on her, but she kept pushing forward, focusing on her work as a way to distract herself. Just as she finished reviewing the latest case notes, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from the hospital director's office.

"Urgent. Meet in conference room. High-priority case."

Aarohi stood up, quickly grabbing her notepad and a pen, wondering what could be so urgent. She rushed down the corridor, her mind already running through potential cases. Just as she reached the door of the conference room, she bumped into Rishi Malhotra.

"Late as usual, Goenka," Rishi teased, though his expression was serious.

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "You wish. What's this about?"

Before Rishi could respond, the director of Sarvodaya Hospital, Dr. Mehta, stepped forward and motioned for them to sit.

"I'll get straight to the point," Dr. Mehta began, his voice grave. "There's been an emergency call from Mumbai. A complex neurosurgery case has come up—critical, life-threatening. All the senior surgeons there are either out of the country or unavailable due to other surgeries. They've requested the two of you—Aarohi Goenka and Rishi Malhotra—to take charge of the case."

Aarohi exchanged a glance with Rishi, their competitive dynamic momentarily forgotten.

"What's the condition of the patient?" Rishi asked, his tone professional.

"The patient has suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. It's a delicate case—one wrong move, and there could be irreversible damage. We need the best, and that's why they've called for you two."

Aarohi's mind raced. She had handled numerous complicated surgeries, but this was different. They were being called to Mumbai for an emergency. The pressure weighed heavily, but her sense of responsibility took over.

"When do we leave?" she asked, already mentally preparing herself.

"You'll be flown there immediately. The hospital has arranged a private jet. The surgery is scheduled for tonight, as soon as you arrive," Dr. Mehta replied, urgency clear in his voice.

Rishi folded his arms and smirked slightly at Aarohi. "Guess we'll see how good you really are, Goenka."

Aarohi shot him a look, her patience wearing thin. "This isn't about me or you, Malhotra. It's about saving a life. So, let's keep our egos in check, shall we?"

Rishi raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement. "Fine. But don't slow me down."

As they left the office, Aarohi and Rishi hurried to gather their things. Aarohi's mind briefly wandered back to Udaipur—to her family, her constant fights with Abhimanyu, and the chaos that had followed her return. It was almost a relief to leave that all behind, even if only for a little while.

On their way to the airstrip, Rishi glanced at Aarohi. "You ever get tired of this?"

"Tired of what?" Aarohi asked, her gaze fixed out the window of the car.

"The constant pressure. The never-ending responsibility of holding someone's life in your hands," Rishi replied, his voice unusually contemplative.

Aarohi thought for a moment before answering. "We chose this. We wanted to save lives. If that comes with pressure, so be it."

Rishi chuckled. "Always so noble, aren't you?"

She rolled her eyes. "And you're always so irritating, aren't you?"

He smirked. "Keeps things interesting."

Before long, they were on the private jet, flying towards Mumbai. The flight was quiet, with both Aarohi and Rishi mentally preparing for the difficult task ahead. Aarohi's thoughts drifted to her family again, but she pushed them aside, focusing on the surgery.

As they approached Mumbai, Rishi turned to her. "You nervous?"

Aarohi shook her head. "No. I'm ready."

"Good. Because once we're in that OR, it's all about precision. No mistakes, no distractions," Rishi said seriously.

Aarohi met his gaze, the tension between them momentarily dissolving in their shared commitment to the task ahead. "Agreed. Let's make sure we don't need a second chance."

The plane touched down in Mumbai, and the two surgeons were whisked away to the hospital. The clock was ticking, and the patient's life depended on their skill, precision, and focus.

There was no room for error.

As they prepared to enter the operating room, Rishi shot Aarohi a glance. "Don't get in my way, Goenka."

Aarohi smirked, adjusting her surgical gloves. "Just try to keep up, Malhotra."

They both knew the seriousness of the situation, but the banter, the competitiveness, it was all part of who they were—driven, focused, and ready to face whatever challenge came their way.

And as the doors to the operating room swung open, they stepped inside, ready to work together, despite their differences.