Balancing of Hearts

C H A P T E R - 8

Santosh and Prabha reached the hospital earlier that day. Santosh had spent a little extra time in
front of the selfie camera, he felt an unfamiliar anticipation in him.

“What would she react ? “This question kept lingering in his mind.

He was aware of all the eyes that looked at him. Some were an expression of astonishment, while some were confused, but Santosh was focused on only one person’s reaction.
He had made his usual rounds, visiting the patients, but his steps seemed to keep circling back near the meeting room where Srinitha and her team typically gathered.

Every time he opened the door,
he was met with the same response: "She hasn't arrived yet." With a sigh, he’d return to his room.

“Enga dhan ponnalo , innum varala “

The stunt that was pulled out by Santosh continued till afternoon, but what he had failed to observe was the pair of eye’s that kept following him . It was none other than Prabha, glancing at him with a raised brow.

“ Dei enna da achu ? “Prabha asked, but Santosh didn't answer. Instead, he kept glancing toward the door, his attention fixed on the entrance.

It wasn’t until Prabha snapped his fingers sharply that Santosh finally broke his gaze and looked at his friend.

“Onnum illaye ! Nee 401 la iruka patient ah pathiya ? Inga enna pannitu iruka “
Santosh clearly deviated the topic not to gain unwanted teasing from his friend and walked away.

"Ivana kekalam nu na vandha, ennaya kelvi ketutu poran… Kadavule, confirm muthiruchu," Prabha
thought, narrowing his eyes.
Prabha wasn’t so easily fooled. He had seen enough of Santosh's moods to know something was off.

He had been more restless than usual, always looking over his shoulder, always distracted, anticipating Srinitha’s arrival. Since he had observed him visiting Srinitha’s room for the 50th time in that day.

Srinitha’s day at the headquarters had dragged on longer than she had anticipated.

By the time she made it to the hospital, the afternoon had slipped into late afternoon, and she was eager to finish her audit and move on with her day. She had a couple of questions for Santosh regarding some of the medical equipment purchases, and she was determined to get answers before she left.

As she walked through the hallways, her eyes scanned the rooms for Santosh. But then, she spotted Prabha talking to a nurse just a few paces ahead.

Feeling a little impatient, she approached him.
She tapped his shoulders “ Anna , Santosh ah pathingana sollringala ? Ennaku konjam Medical
equipment purchases pathi discuss pannanum “

Saying so, she just walked away , failing to observe Santosh, who stood beside Prabha.

Santosh stood still for a moment, watching her pass by. He had been standing there, hoping for
perhaps a hint of surprise, or even a simple nod. But nothing. She hadn’t looked at him. She hadn’t
noticed him at all.

Just as he was about to turn away, to his surprise, she walked back toward him. She tapped her index finger thoughtfully against her chin, scanning him from head to toe, her eyes moving over him as if she was examining a puzzle. And then,almost absentmindedly, she reached out, her finger grazing the dimple on his cheek.

Meanwhile, Prabha and the rest of the staff were the uninvited spectators of this scene.
She stood there in shock for straight 5 minutes , unable to speak or process the things.

Finally, Santosh broke the silence. "Ini 10 times breathe in, breathe out panna venam. Direct-a ve room-ku vandhurulam." His voice brought her back to reality.