DESTINY....together forever

Chapter 9

The days had begun to blur together for Srishti, filled with long hours at the hospital, calls from home, and the occasional messages from Sahil, who seemed to be pulling back slightly. After the tension between them, things weren't quite the same. She missed him more than ever, but each call left her feeling as if something was left unsaid.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting shift, Srishti found herself lingering a bit longer than usual with the children in the pediatric ward. She was finishing up some paperwork when she spotted Chris in the corridor, deep in conversation with a nurse. Srishti had been trying to avoid him, feeling awkward around him after their tense first meetings, but today, he caught her eye and approached with a nod.

"You're staying late," he remarked.

She shrugged. "It's hard to leave sometimes... the kids here, they really know how to keep you grounded."

Chris's gaze softened, something she hadn't seen before. "That's true. You're good with them."

Srishti blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected praise from him. "Thanks," she replied, a bit self-conscious. "It's rewarding, seeing them smile. Sometimes I think they help me more than I help them."

Chris tilted his head, studying her as if he hadn't quite expected that answer. "I can see that. Not everyone has that kind of empathy."

The conversation might have ended there, but Srishti felt compelled to ask, "Is that why you chose trauma care?"

Chris's expression shifted slightly, his eyes becoming distant. "In a way. I've... had my reasons." He didn't elaborate, but there was a weight to his words that Srishti sensed was rooted in something personal.

They stood in silence for a moment, but it wasn't uncomfortable. She was beginning to see Chris in a new light, sensing a complexity and vulnerability beneath the rigid exterior.

The next day, Srishti found herself helping with a complicated case that left her emotionally drained. As she was heading out of the hospital, her mind on autopilot, she missed a step in the stairwell and twisted her ankle. Wincing in pain, she tried to walk it off but knew it was more than a minor sprain. Limping, she made her way out to the bus stop, hoping she could make it home without too much trouble.

As she waited, biting her lip to hold back the discomfort, a familiar voice spoke behind her. "Are you planning to limp all the way home?"

She turned to find Chris standing there, a mix of exasperation and concern on his face. "I'm fine," she insisted, though it was obvious she was anything but.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Being stubborn again are we, Dr Srishti? Let's just make it easy for both of us alright. Tell me your address and I'll drop you to your home."

Reluctantly, Srishti accepted, realizing that walking on her own might make things worse. She climbed into his car, grateful for the reprieve from her throbbing ankle. As she buckled up, Chris asked, "Where do you live?"

"Uh, it's on Maple Lane. Near the Richmond park," she replied, giving him the full address.

A brief flicker of recognition crossed his face. "I know the area. I live nearby," he admitted.

"Oh," Srishti said, feeling oddly flustered but unable to think of a response. The air between them felt heavy, like neither quite knew what to say. For all their previous tension, this silence was new—a strange, almost comfortable kind of awkwardness.

They drove in silence, and before long, Srishti's exhaustion started to creep up on her. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she found herself dozing off, lulled by the hum of the car and the warmth of the seat.