Silent whispers of love

~Chapter Fourteen~

The sterile scent of antiseptics filled the air as I walked the corridors of the hospital, buzzing with its usual chaos—stretchers being wheeled in, nurses exchanging updates in clipped tones, and the occasional bark of orders from senior doctors.

Dr. Arnold had announced the arrival of a new resident, and rumors were already swirling about him.

“Dr. Rohan Kapoor,” whispered Erwin, tagging along beside me. “He’s supposed to be a top scorer in the residency exams. Word is, he’s from India, as well. You two will get along fairly good.”

I sighed, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Erwin, I hope you spend as much time on your cases as you do on gossip.”

Erwin grinned sheepishly but didn’t respond.

As we turned a corner toward the Emergency Department, I saw a tall figure standing by the nurses' station, engrossed in conversation with Dr. Arnold. The man had an air of confidence about him, his crisp white coat neatly buttoned and a stethoscope slung casually around his neck. His dark eyes were sharp, observant, and quick to pick up on the flurry of activity around him.

“Ah, Dr. Mathur,” Dr. Arnold called out, motioning me over. “Perfect timing. Meet Dr. Rohan Kapoor, the newest addition to our team. Dr. Kapoor, this is Dr. Kanika Mathur, one of our most dedicated residents. You’ll be working closely with her.”

I extended a polite hand. “Welcome to St. George, Dr. Kapoor.”

Rohan took my hand with a firm grip and an easy smile. “Thank you. I’ve heard a lot about this hospital. I hope I can keep up with its reputation—and yours, Dr. Mathur.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I hope so too. We run a tight ship here.”

Dr. Arnold cleared his throat, glancing at his watch. “Save the introductions for later. There’s a critical patient in ER 3, and I need both of you there now. Erwin, you assist. I’ll check in shortly.”

Without another word, we headed to the Emergency Room.

🪻🪻🪻

The patient was a middle-aged man with labored breathing and severe chest pain. The nurses had already set up monitors, and the ECG showed troubling signs of myocardial infarction. I snapped into action.

“Erwin, start prepping for an IV line. Get me nitroglycerin and morphine. Dr. Kapoor, check his vitals and report.”

Rohan moved swiftly to the patient’s side, his demeanor steady as he began the examination. “BP is 90 over 60, heart rate’s 110 and irregular. Oxygen saturation is dropping—82%.”

I frowned. “We need to stabilize him now. He’s slipping into cardiogenic shock. Erwin, hurry up with that IV!”

“I’m on it!” Erwin replied, fumbling slightly as he inserted the cannula.

Rohan glanced at me. “Do you think we need a temporary pacemaker if his heart rhythm deteriorates further?”

I paused for half a second, impressed by his quick assessment. “It’s a possibility. Let’s monitor him closely. For now, we start thrombolysis. I’ll push alteplase.”

As I administered the medication, Rohan stayed close, observing my movements with sharp focus. “You’re efficient,” he commented under his breath.

“And you’re observant,” I replied curtly, not taking my eyes off the patient. “But there’s no room for compliments in an emergency, Dr. Kapoor.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but he said nothing more.

🪻🪻🪻

The patient had stabilized and been moved to the ICU for further observation.
I leaned against the wall outside the ER, rubbing my temples. It was barely 10 a.m., and I already felt the weight of the day.

“Not bad for a first day,” Rohan said as he approached me, holding two paper cups of coffee. He extended one towards me.

I hesitated but took it. “Thanks. You handled yourself well in there.”

“I’ve had a fair share of chaotic emergencies,” he said, taking a sip. “But you’re impressive. You don’t just know what to do—you make sure everyone else knows too.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, unsure if it was a compliment or veiled sarcasm. “It’s my job to lead. I hope you’re ready to follow orders.”

Rohan chuckled. “I’m good at following orders—when they make sense. I guess we’ll find out if yours do.”

I was about to retort, but Dr. Arnold appeared again, his booming voice cutting through the moment.

“Dr. Kapoor, Dr. Mathur, you’re assigned to the same rotation this week. Make sure you both stay on top of your cases. And Dr. Mathur, keep an eye on him. We wouldn’t want him getting overwhelmed on his first day.”

Rohan gave a mock salute. “I’ll try not to disappoint.”

I simply nodded, already walking away to check my next case. I didn’t have time for banter, no matter how charming my new colleague was.
Rohan Kapoor might be new, but he wasn’t going to fade into the background easily.

And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.