CityCare Hospital never slept.
The hum of machines, the rush of footsteps, the soft murmurs of comfort and worry—it all blended into a constant rhythm of life and urgency. Within its walls, hope and fear walked hand in hand. Nurses moved swiftly, doctors issued commands, and patients held tightly to the thin threads of healing and survival.
In the middle of all the hospital rush, Aashi moved calmly and confidently. She wore pale blue scrubs, and her hair was neatly tied back. Even though everything around her was busy and stressful, she stayed steady and focused. She was used to emergencies and pressure. Nothing seemed to bother her. She was so focused on her work that she didn't even notice the man who had just walked into the ER with a bruised arm and an irritated expression.
Aryan Mehra. The name meant something to most people—he was the CEO's son and the heir to a big business empire. He didn't usually have to wait for anything. In the hospital lobby, he looked out of place. His white shirt was wrinkled and a bit dirty from a small car accident. He held his phone to his ear, talking fast and giving orders like someone too busy to stop.
"Just stall the investors. I'll be there in—"
"Phone down. Sleeve up," came a calm, firm voice that cut through his sentence.
Startled, Aryan turned. Aashi stood in front of him, her expression unreadable. Gloves on. Eyes steady. No smile, no flutter of recognition, no hint that she knew or cared who he was.
Aryan raised an eyebrow but obeyed, intrigued by her cool confidence. He had expected to guided into a private room or at least to be treated with some special attention. Instead, he found himself just another patient in the hands of a nurse who didn't flinch under his stare.
As she cleaned and dressed his wound, Aryan watched her hands move with practiced ease. She said little, focused on her task.
"Do you always talk to patients like that?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Only when they care more about deals than disinfectant," she replied, not bothering to look up.
He laughed, genuinely amused. For a moment, everything around him seemed to fade away. Aashi had broken through the formal ways he was used to. She treated him like a regular person, not a rich heir—and that made him curious about her.
Days passed. Then weeks. Aryan found himself making frequent stops at the hospital. Sometimes with excuses—tiny injuries, headaches, anything that could justify a visit. Other times, he just waited by the coffee machine, hoping to catch her during a break. He brought her coffee. She rolled her eyes but accepted it. She teased him, and he loved it. Slowly, something delicate and real began to bloom between them.
Their first real day together came on a Sunday, her day off. Aryan had skipped a board meeting just to be with her. They met at Wonderland Amusement Park, and for the first time, Aryan wasn't a business heir. He was just a man in love.
They fed pigeons, laughed together on the Ferris wheel, and held hands like it was the most natural thing in the world. He twirled her in the courtyard, her laughter ringing like a melody. He kissed her under the bright afternoon sky, open and unguarded. He carried her bag, bought her cotton candy, and even won her a stuffed bear at a balloon stall. It was simple, sweet, and perfect.
"You're crazy," she whispered, cheeks pink.
"For you? Always," he replied, his smile soft.
As the sun dipped low, they sat side by side on a worn-out bench, sharing a small paper cup of melting ice cream. The world around them faded as they looked up at the orange-streaked sky.
"Do you think this will last?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Aryan reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "If I have to choose between the world and you, Aashi... I'll choose you every time."
But love, no matter how pure, is rarely easy. And around the corner, fate waited—draped in diamonds, heels clicking with confidence, and a name that would soon stir everything....