“I can't believe you're here. Kaha chali gyi thi tum? I looked for you everywhere.”

The statement angered her more and she jerked her hands out of his.

She got and started to move away from him but he held her wrist again.

“Leave my hand! Unlike you I have work to do.”

She whisper yelled. Her anger was visible and he didn't argue. He left her hand with a surrender and smiled at her. He was just too happy to finally see her.

Maybe destiny did exist. He saw her hold the handle to Shaurya's ward and stopped her.

“Hey? You're going there?”

“I'm supposed to change the patient's dressing. Any problem?”

“Umm…just a minute.”

Rashit knocked on the door and peeked his head inside.

"I hope I am not interrupting. Even if I am, get decent kyu ki nurse dressing ke liye andar aane wali hai and I don't want her to get traumatized seeing live porn here."

Anika frowned. He knew the patient. And what's with the warning. She rolled her eyes and heard a curse from inside.

"Fuck off Rashit!"

"Find me a girl to, Shaurya!"

He laughed and shut the door again.

“Let's give them two minutes to get decent. He's with his girl inside.”

Rashit clarified and Anika looked away. Two minutes later he and Anika entered the room and Anika started changing Shaurya's bandage carefully.

The room was filled with a lot of tension. Between Rashit and Anika. Rashit was continuously staring at her like a love sick puppy.

She was trying hard to ignore his gaze but every now and then they were having an eye contact. Earlier his gaze made her blush because of the softness in them.

But now, it made her shiver because of the intensity in them. She didn't fail to notice how much he had grown up. She had left a boy behind. This in front of her was a man.

After she was done with Shaurya. She looked at Rashit and said.

"You too sit. Your knuckles are burst open and you have a cut on your forearm too."

He nodded but did not move and continued to look at her. She sighed and pulled him till the couch and made him sit. He pulled her down with him and said.

"You too. Sit."

She looked at him wide eyed but started treating him nonetheless. She applied the antiseptic and Rashit hissed.

"I am sorry."

She mumbled and started doing it softly.

"I love you."

He said instead and she looked at him wide eyed. All three of them were looking at Rashit wide eyed.

The next moment she threw the cotton and ran out leaving everything behind. Shaurya and Ruhanika looked at the door and then at Rashit and then at each other and burst out laughing.

"Saale teri Anika ka kya hua?"

Shaurya asked and Rashit grinned widely. He looked at Shaurya and then at the door and said.

"Anika!"

"What! Really?"

Shaurya asked and Rashit nodded beaming happily. He got up and sauntered out.

He looked in the direction that she went and saw her running towards the staircase.

“Anika!”

He called behind her but it only made her run faster. Tears pooled in her eyes as she ran. Why did he bring back those feelings she had buried somewhere deep? Why did he come back into her life after so many years?

She reached the changing rooms to lock herself inside thinking he wouldn't come in the female changing rooms but her eyes widened when he barged inside breathing heavily.

“Stop running away from me, woman!”

He said playfully before walking towards her. She walked backwards until her back hit the wall.

“Why are you here? Why now? After all these years? Ab kyu aaye ho jab maine jeena seekh liya tumhare bina.”

She yelled while wiping the tears that fell from her eyes. He stopped for a second before continuing to walk towards her.

“I have been looking for you for so long Anika. Kaha chali gyi thi tum?”

“No! You don't get to blame me. Tum chhod ke gye the pehle mujhe. You promised me and you broke that promise Rashit. Ab mujhe tumse koi baat nhi krni. Khush hu mai apni life mai. Jaao yaha se.”

Rashit shook his head and softly wiped her tears before cupping her face.

“I didn't do it deliberately. I never wanted to do anything Anika. Bhut kuch hua hai itne saalon mai. I missed you so much Anika-”

“Leave Rashit! Jaao yaha se.”

“Please listen to me Anika-”

“Nhi! You listen to me! I never wanted a long distance relationship. Mai reluctant thi hamesha se. You promised me that we'll make it work. But you ghosted me Rashit. Left me wondering what I did wrong. You can't just leave me hanging and then show up one day after so many years and expect ki mai tumhari baat sunungi. So just leave!”

She cried pushing him away. He let her but didn't leave her hands. He knew he was wrong. But he wasn't in his right mind. Seeing his parents get murdered right in front of his eyes made him forget everything other than revenge.

“I love you Anika. I really do. I never stopped loving you. You don't know everything that's happened-”

“And I don't want to know. Just leave! Bhut der krdi tumne. Ab koi faayda nhi hai. I'm already engaged with someone else.”

Until now, he was letting her hit him and take out her anger but the last statement made his blood boil.

“What? What did you say?”

He asked in a dangerously low voice. She looked into his eyes and spoke each word with emphasis.

“Engagement ho chuki hai meri. I have a fiance. Someone who loves me and wants to be with me.”

“I don't see a ring on your finger.”

“I work in a hospital. We're not allowed jewellery.”

He closed his eyes for a brief moment before saying.

“Break off your engagement.”

“Excuse me?”

She asked shocked at his audacity.