𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐍 𝐕𝐎𝐖

The sun blazed high in the sky, its golden rays pouring down like molten fire. The air was thick, heavy, and clinging to my skin. Ugh! And here I was, standing outside the door, waiting for my dumbass younger brother, who never came out on time!

"Avi, are you coming out, or should I come in?" I shouted, already losing patience.

"Just wait a minute, Nidhi! I'm coming!" he called back.

A minute? Yeah, right. I leaned against the car, tapping my foot, checking my watch every few seconds. The heat was unbearable, and I was already cursing myself for not carrying a water bottle.

Five minutes.

Ten.

Fifteen.

I was ready to storm in when the door finally creaked open. And there he was-Avi, strolling out like he had all the time in the world."An hour, Avi! Seriously?" I snapped, glaring at him.

He simply shrugged. "Traffic."

"We haven't even started driving yet, idiot!" I huffed, getting into the car.As expected, the drive was filled with our usual back-and-forth arguments-pointless, endless, and, at this point, a daily ritual. He dropped me off at the hospital, and I was just about to walk in when-

"Hello, dear!"

A voice rang out from behind, startling me.I turned around to find Suhana standing there, grinning like she had just won the lottery.

"Hi! What are you doing here? No warning, no notice?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Actually, I came to give you shocking news," she said, excitement dancing in her eyes.

"Ohh! Literally shocking, because the biggest shock is that you're standing right in front of me!" I teased, crossing my arms.

She groaned dramatically. "Whatever! Just listen first!"

"Yeah, yeah, tell me," I said with a chuckle.

"I'm getting married to the love of my life! The one and only-"

"Pratham," I interrupted before she could finish, smirking.

Her laughter rang out like a melody. "Yes! My love!" Then, as quickly as her joy had bubbled up, her eyes welled with tears.

I gasped theatrically, grabbing her hands. "Oh my God,Suhana! That's amazing! Congratulations!" I grinned, squeezing her hands in excitement.

She beamed. "Thank you, thank you!"

I frowned. "What now? Excited for married life, or are you already regretting it?" I teased.

"Hey! Stop it!" she exclaimed, lightly smacking my arm. "I'm just so happy! After so long... it's overwhelming."

I softened. "Yes, my dear. And sorry for teasing you." I pulled her into a warm hug.Just then, my name echoed through the corridor.

"Nidhi! Nidhi!"

I turned to see one of my colleagues rushing toward me.

"Yes? What happened?" I asked.

"The head doctor is asking for you. Go punch your card first!" she said breathlessly.

sighed, glancing at Suhana. "Duty calls, as you can see."

"Ahh, alright. We'll meet at a café in the evening after your shift, okay?"

"Okay, bye! Gotta go!" I said hurriedly, rushing inside.

After clocking in and handling my rounds with the doctor, I finally got a break. For most, break time meant eating, chatting, and giggling. But for me? It was my sleep hour.I had barely leaned back in my chair, eyes fluttering shut, when-

"Nidhi!"

Raju burst into the room, his face pale.

"It's urgent! The doctor isn't here, and a patient is in critical condition!" he panted.

Adrenaline surged through me. I bolted upright, my exhaustion vanishing in an instant.

"Where is he?" I asked, already moving.

"In the emergency ward! He was in an accident-his head and chest are bleeding badly!"

I sprinted down the corridor, my heart hammering against my ribs. The moment I stepped into the emergency ward, my breath hitched.The sight sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed it aside.

Focus, Nidhi.

A man lay on a stretcher, his face bathed in blood. His shirt was soaked crimson, the fabric clinging to his body. His breathing was shallow-labored. Time slowed as my brain switched to full medical mode.

"Get me a suture kit-now!" I ordered, snapping on my gloves.

A nurse rushed to my side, handing me gauze and a hemostat. I pressed the gauze firmly against the worst wound-a deep gash across his forehead, dangerously close to his temple. Blood oozed through the fabric instantly.

"Dammit, it's not clotting fast enough," I muttered. "Suction!"

The assistant moved swiftly, clearing the pooling blood. I pulled out a syringe, injecting a local anesthetic near the wound-though he was too unconscious to react."Scissors!" I called, and the nurse placed them in my palm. Carefully, I cut away the blood-soaked fabric from his chest. A jagged wound near his ribs gaped open, bleeding sluggishly.

"Prepare for sutures," I instructed, my hands working fast.

"BP is dropping!" another nurse called out.Shit. I needed to close the wound-fast.

"Hand me the curved needle," I said, my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my stomach.With practiced precision, I threaded the suture through his torn flesh, stitching layer by layer. Each loop tightened the wound, staunching the bleeding little by little. My fingers worked on autopilot-stitch, pull, knot.

"Come on, stay with me," I whispered under my breath.The monitors beeped steadily. His pulse was weak but stable. The bleeding had finally slowed.

I exhaled, my shoulders slumping slightly. One of my colleagues patted my shoulder.

"That was incredible, Nidhi."

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair off my forehead. "Thanks."

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed in the hall. A woman and Pratham rushed inside.The woman grabbed my hand, pressing it to her lips, her hands trembling.

"You are a goddess, beta," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.

"No, please, Ma'am! It's my job. I just did what I had to," I assured her.

"Don't call me ma'am, beta. Just Aunty," she said warmly, her eyes glistening with emotion.A strange warmth filled my chest. I had never known such motherly affection, and for a fleeting moment, I envied the unconscious man on the stretcher.

"Do all mothers get this worried when their children are in danger?" I murmured under my breath.

"Aunty, you should sit down. Everything is fine now. It's a relief that he's stable. I'm sure he'll regain consciousness in an hour," I reassured her.

"Haan, beta," she said softly, nodding.

As I turned to leave, my eyes landed on Pratham. He was gripping the unconscious man's hand, his face tight with tension.

Curiously, I wondered-who was this man to him? Was he a relative? A friend?

Pratham opened his mouth, as if about to say something, when suddenly-

Two men barged in.....