LoV3 Crossed💜OneShot (On Hold) (YMK Version 2)

"11"

Hello makkaley after long long time here you author.....

It's may feel little different from previous chapter so adjust karoooo.....

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Akshitha's mind was a total mess, tossing and turning in bed. That phone call with Arjun kept replaying. Shita. The way he said it… so familiar, almost teasing.

It sent a shiver down her spine. She hadn't heard that nickname in years, not since… well, since Arjun. Does he even remember why he used to call me that? she wondered. Or is he just playing some kind of game, trying to get under my skin?

The next day at the hospital was even worse. Akshitha tried to focus on her patients, on her work, but Arjun was like a shadow, always nearby. He'd be down the hall, across the cafeteria, even in the background during a consult. His eyes kept finding hers. A little smile, a nod… but he never actually talked to her. It was subtle, but it was driving her crazy.

Lunchtime rolled around, and Akshitha desperately needed a break. She grabbed a salad and found a quiet table in the corner of the cafeteria. Finally, some peace! She was just about to take the first bite when, wouldn't you know it, a shadow fell across her plate.
"Mind if I join you?"

It was Arjun. Akshitha sighed, deep down inside. "Look, Arjun," she said, trying to keep her voice calm, "I told you, I have a boyfriend. I'm not interested in whatever you're trying to do."

Arjun sat down across from her, his face giving nothing away. "I'm not playing a game, Akshitha. I'm serious."
"Serious about what? Stalking me during my lunch break?"

"Serious about… us," he said quietly, like he was testing the words out.
Akshitha scoffed. "Us? There is no 'us,' Arjun. There hasn't been for five years. Remember?"

"Things change," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "People change."

"Some things don't," Akshitha shot back, finally taking a bite of her salad. She was trying so hard to act like she didn't care, but her heart was doing a drum solo in her chest.
"Like your feelings for me?" Arjun challenged, a little smirk playing on his lips.

Akshitha promptly choked on her salad. She coughed, grabbed her water, and took a big gulp. "What are you even talking about?" she finally managed, her cheeks burning.
Arjun leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Don't play dumb, Shita. I know you still feel something for me."
Akshitha's breath hitched.

He'd called her Shita again. And this time, she didn't correct him. She couldn't. The name, the way he said it, pulled up a whole bunch of memories she'd been trying to forget. Memories of laughing until their sides hurt, of sharing secrets whispered in the dark, of a connection that had felt so strong, so real.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, looking anywhere but at him.
Arjun reached across the table and gently took her hand. Just a touch, but it sent a jolt of electricity right through her. "Yes, you do," he whispered. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Akshitha's mind was spinning. She knew she should pull her hand away, tell him to leave her alone. But she was frozen. His touch, his eyes, the memories crashing back…

it was all too much. She was stuck, caught between the past and the present, between what her head was telling her and what her heart was screaming.

Just then, a voice cut through the tension.
"Akshitha? There you are!"
Akshitha's head snapped up. Standing behind Arjun, looking a little confused, was a man she hadn't seen in ages. A man she'd told Arjun she was dating.

A man named Vikram.
Arjun turned around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.

He looked from Vikram to Akshitha, his expression hardening.
"Vikram," Akshitha said, her voice barely a whisper. She knew what was coming. The lie she'd told Arjun was about to be exposed.

Okay, let's go with a combination of options 1 and 2, focusing on the immediate fallout but also adding a touch of ambiguity:
"Vikram," Akshitha said, her voice barely a whisper.

She knew what was coming. The lie she'd told Arjun was about to be exposed.
Vikram, a tall, friendly-looking man with a warm smile, looked genuinely pleased to see her.  "Akshitha!  What a surprise! I didn't know you were here." He leaned down and gave her a quick, friendly hug.  "How have you been?"
Akshitha's mind raced.

Think, think!  She needed to salvage this somehow.  "Vikram," she said, trying to sound casual, "this is Arjun, a… colleague from the hospital. Arjun, this is Vikram."  She avoided eye contact with both of them.

Arjun's jaw tightened. He offered Vikram a curt nod. "Nice to meet you."  His voice was flat, devoid of any warmth.
Vikram, oblivious to the tension, grinned. "Nice to meet you too. 

So, Akshitha, what are you doing here?  Just grabbing some lunch?"
Akshitha forced a smile. "Yeah, just a quick bite.  Arjun and I were just… discussing a case."  Liar, liar, pants on fire, she thought to herself.

Arjun's eyes narrowed. He looked from Akshitha to Vikram, then back again.  He didn't say anything, but his silence was deafening.

  He could feel a knot forming in his stomach.  Something wasn't right.  Akshitha's nervousness, the way she avoided his gaze… it all screamed that she was hiding something.  But what?

Vikram, still clueless, pulled up a chair. "So, how's that heart surgery going?  The one you were telling me about?" he asked Akshitha.
Akshitha’s heart pounded. This was getting out of hand. She mumbled a response, trying to change the subject.  "It was… complicated.  But everything went well in the end."
Arjun watched them, his mind reeling.

A case?  A heart surgery?  He didn't understand what they were talking about.  He’d seen Akshitha at the hospital, but they hadn't discussed any cases together. 

He felt a surge of anger, mixed with confusion and a deep sense of hurt.  Was she really dating this guy?  Or was this some elaborate act?
He decided to play along, for now.  He needed to find out the truth.  "So, Vikram," he said, forcing a polite tone, "how do you two know each other?"

Vikram chuckled. "Oh, we go way back. We met at a conference a few years ago. We’ve been… close ever since.” He put his hand briefly on Akshitha’s shoulder.

Arjun’s gaze fixed on that hand.  Close.  The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning.  He felt a sharp pang of jealousy.  He wanted to rip Vikram's hand away and tell him to stay away from Akshitha.  But he restrained himself.  He needed to be smart about this.

Akshitha shifted uncomfortably.  She could feel Arjun's eyes burning into her.  She knew she couldn't keep up this charade for much longer.

The three of them sat there in awkward silence for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.  Arjun was waiting, watching, trying to decipher the truth.  Akshitha was panicking, trying to figure out her next move.  And Vikram, poor Vikram, was just enjoying his lunch, completely unaware of the storm brewing around him.

What happens next?  Does Arjun confront Akshitha directly?  Does Vikram finally realize something is off? Or does something else entirely interrupt this tense lunch meeting?

See you in upcoming chapter ❤️

With love sangkari Manimaran 💕