SIDDHARTH
Siddharth couldn't shake the image of Annika's tear-streaked face.
The Doctor was checking her pulse, Poonam(step-mother) and His father were both in the room they seemed to be pleased almost, by the situation.
He couldn't take his eyes off Annika. Her sleeping form that lay on his bed.
He had seen her in pain before, but something about this moment felt different. The fear, the way she looked at him with those wide, frightened eyes before they shut close, it wasn't just about the argument with that woman. It was something else.
A part of him wanted to reach out to her. He couldn't let her fall apart like this, even if they were barely more than strangers under the same roof.
But what could he do? He couldn't force her to open up. Not when she was so clearly trying to protect herself from whatever was eating at her.
"Damn it" he muttered to himself
Running a hand through his hair as he paced the room. This situation was messier than he'd imagined when he agreed to this arrangement. There was too much unspoken between them, too much that felt like it was on the edge of unraveling.
ANNIKA & SIDDHARTH
Annika's mind was still hazy when she opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was the overwhelming feeling of panic, the darkness closing in. Siddharth's voice.
She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the light. The room around her was dimly lit, but she recognized the familiar surroundings of Siddharth's bedroom.
Siddharth's presence was the first thing she noticed. His gaze locked on her, studying her in a way that made her breath hitch.
Her chest tightened.
"Annika," Siddharth's voice broke through her confusion. He sounded worried, yet there was a firmness to his tone, as if he was forcing himself to remain composed.
"Are you okay?" he asked
She tried to speak, but her voice was weak, her throat dry from the panic and fear she had felt earlier. Her head was spinning.
She just nodded, barely able to meet his eyes.
"Annika," he said again, his hand reaching out to gently hold hers. His touch grounding her. But before she could respond, the sound of footsteps caught her attention. The family doctor, Dr. Mehera, stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes flicking between her and the people in the room.
Her eyes drifted to Siddharth's parents, who stood by the door, watching the situation unfold with impatience and judgment. Her stomach turned when she saw Poonam's disapproving gaze.
Annika felt exposed, the weight of their stares making her skin prickle. But she couldn't focus on them now, she had to focus on getting through this moment.
"Doctor," Siddharth said sharply, his voice cutting through the thick tension in the room.
"Is she going to be okay?"
Dr. Mehera's gaze shifted to Annika, assessing her carefully before responding in a measured tone
"She's stable for now, but she fainted due to a combination of exhaustion and stress. Her vitals are fine, but she needs rest and a proper, stress-free environment to recover. I recommend she stays in bed for the rest of the day."
Annika closed her eyes, the doctor's words weighing heavily on her. It was clear that the doctor was trying to keep things professional, but there was an unspoken understanding that Annika was under more than just physical strain.
YOU ARE READING
Estranged lovers
RomanceStoic, handsome and ruthless businessman, Siddharth Chauhan has been cursed with a past he cannot escape. "Sell the lake house and marry within 2 years" A single clause threatens everything he has worked hard to achieve. What will he do when he is...