𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: अनुरागी

❀ 5

Reyansh paced around the small living room, his eyes darting to his phone every few minutes. He had tried calling DD multiple times throughout the week, but all he got was silence. It wasn't like her to just disappear without a word. Esha, his little sister, was worried for her. Her concern was starting to show, especially tonight.

"I don't feel well," Esha murmured from the couch, her voice soft and weak. She was pale, and Reyansh couldn't ignore it anymore. He was worried about DD, but his priority now had to be Esha.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Reyansh said, grabbing his car keys. Esha didn't protest, which made him worry more.

The hospital was quiet when they arrived, a contrast to the loud thoughts racing through Reyansh's mind. They sat in the waiting area after the doctor took Esha in for some tests. Reyansh tapped his foot nervously, glancing at the people around him.

His heart nearly stopped when he saw her.

Across the hall, DD was there. But she wasn't walking like he expected her to be. She was in a wheelchair, and beside her stood a tall, handsome man. Reyansh's stomach twisted in an uncomfortable knot. The man was leaning in, talking to her softly. DD laughed, but the moment her eyes met Reyansh's, the smile on her face vanished.

Reyansh felt a surge of emotions hit him all at once-relief that she was okay, confusion about why she hadn't told anyone, and jealousy, though he didn't understand why. He marched over to them, his mind racing.

"DD?" Reyansh's voice came out sharper than he intended.

DD looked like she had seen a ghost. Her hands tightened on the armrests of the wheelchair, and she looked at him hard experience before answering. "Reyansh... what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he said, glancing at the man beside her. The guy gave him a polite nod but didn't step away from DD. "Who's this?"

"Uh, this is Kabir... my childhood friend," DD replied.

Reyansh's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to keep calm. "You didn't answer your phone for a week, DD. We've been worried sick. And now I find you here, in a wheelchair?"

DD eyes darting on Reyansh. "Why do you care? I am ok."

Reyansh's patience snapped. "Care? You disappeared! You're clearly hurt, and you didn't think to tell anyone?"

"I'm fine!" DD said, in her stern voice but she was happy that he was worried for her. "It was just an accident."

Kabir stepped in, his voice calm but protective. " Don't worry, I was with her. Someone shot her"

DD glared at her friend who bit his tongue.

Reyansh felt his blood run cold. "Shot? You got shot and didn't tell anyone?"

DD finally looked up at him. "I am ok, professor."

Reyansh shook his head, trying to process everything. His mind was racing, and he felt a mix of emotions-worry, frustration, and a strange surge of jealousy towards Kabir. He didn't like the way Kabir hovered around DD, like he knew her better than anyone else did.

"This is serious, DD," Reyansh said, his voice softer now but still filled with concern. "You should've told us. We could've helped."

Kabir placed a hand on DD's shoulder, and Reyansh's eyes narrowed. "She's been through a lot. I've been helping her recover."

Reyansh clenched his fists, his irritation rising. He didn't like how Kabir acted like DD's protector. It wasn't jealousy, was it? He pushed the thought away. This wasn't about that. It was about DD keeping secrets.

"Come on, Divya" Reyansh said, turning to DD. "We're taking you home. Esha's here too, by the way. She hasn't been feeling well."

DD was shocked by his polite behavior and his nickname Divya. "Esha? Is she okay?"

"She's getting checked now, but she'll be fine," Reyansh reassured her. "Let's go."

They brought DD home that evening, and for the next few days, Reyansh and Esha made sure to take care of her. Reyansh kept a watchful eye on DD, noticing how much pain she was hiding behind her experienceless face. They ate meals together, watched movies, and spent time just talking. Slowly, Reyansh started to see a different side of DD. She wasn't the Monster, rude person he had thought she was. He hated her, but why was he feeling something for her?

One afternoon, as Reyansh was coming out of his room, he overheard a conversation between DD and their maid, Sunita. Sunita's voice was full of panic as she explained that her son had fallen ill and was in the hospital.

"How much does the treatment cost?" DD asked quietly.

"I... I don't know yet," Sunita replied, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm trying to borrow some money from relatives, but it's hard..."

Without hesitation, DD pulled out her checkbook, scribbling an amount before handing it to Sunita. "Take this. Don't worry about paying me back."

Sunita stared at the blank check, her hands shaking. "I can't accept this..."

"You can, and you will," DD said firmly. "Your son needs it. That's all that matters."

Reyansh watched from the doorway, amazed. He had never seen DD like this before. She wasn't just tough and independent; she had a heart that cared deeply for the people around her. It made him rethink everything he had assumed about her.

Later that evening, Reyansh found himself sitting next to DD on the couch as they watched a movie together, the room filled with a comfortable silence. He glanced at her, seeing the warmth in her eyes as she smiled at something on the screen.

"Why didn't you ever show this side of yourself before?" he asked quietly.

DD looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You... giving that blank check to Sunita without even blinking, taking care of things without asking for anything in return. You're... not what I expected."

DD looked at him without any expression on her face, her eyes meeting his. "I guess you never really gave me a chance to show you."

Reyansh felt something shift inside him. There was still so much about her he didn't know, but for the first time, he wanted to. They were growing closer, and somehow, it didn't seem so bad.