Happy reading..!

-- Author's POV

The sun peeked over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink as the city of Mumbai awakened to another bustling day. The scent of freshly brewed chai filled the air in the Sharma household, mingling with the distant honking of cars and the faint call of street vendors. The aroma wrapped around Naina Sharma like a warm embrace savoring her mother’s lovingly prepared breakfast. Today was her first official day as a resident doctor at the prestigious Malhotra Hospital, and her heart fluttered between excitement and nervousness.

“Achhe se kha lo, beta,” Sunita Sharma fussed, placing an extra paratha on Naina’s plate. “Aaj lambi duty rahegi.”

“Maa, do already khaa chuki hoon! Aur agar aur khaya na, toh hospital mein patients treat karne ke bajaye so jaungi.” Naina chuckled, shaking her head as her younger brother, Aryan, snickered from across the table.

“Toh kya problem hai?” Aryan smirked. “Kam se kam patients ko bhi toh seekhna chahiye ki proper rest lena zaroori hota hai!”

“Bhukh se chakkar kha ke girne se toh behtar hai,” her father chimed in, sipping his tea with a knowing smile. “Doctors ko bhi toh apni taqat banaay rakhni chahiye.”

Naina smiled warmly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her family’s unwavering support was her greatest strength, but today, the reality of stepping into a world dominated by expectations, reputations, and powerful names loomed over her.

She quickly finished her meal, stood up, and bent down to touch her parents’ feet. “Ashirwad dijiye, Maa-Papa,” she said, looking at them with hopeful eyes.

“Beta, tujhe kisiki nazar na lage. Khush reh,” Sunita said, placing her hand lovingly on Naina’s head.

“Luck ki zaroorat nahi hai tujhe, meri beti,” her father said proudly. “Tu iss din ke liye hi bani hai.”

Her Brother Aryan also wished her luck with thumbs up and a big smile. Naina replied him with a flying kiss and good by wave.

Naina took a deep breath, smiled, grabbed her bag, and walked toward the door—with dreams in her heart and the determination to conquer the world in her eyes.

---

Malhotra Hospital stood tall and imposing, its glass exterior gleaming under the morning sun. The name itself carried weight—a legacy of excellence and power. As Naina entered through the grand doors, her heart thumped wildly. The sterile scent of antiseptics, the hurried footsteps of doctors, and the low hum of machinery formed a symphony of organized chaos.

She quickly made her way to the resident department, where she received her assigned duties. Today, she would be assisting in the VIP wing—a place reserved for the hospital’s most influential patients. Her first case: Mrs. Malhotra, the mother of none other than Veer Malhotra, the hospital’s biggest benefactor and one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.

The name sent a ripple through her nerves. Everyone knew of Veer Malhotra—his ruthlessness in the business world, his enigmatic persona, and the air of cold authority that followed him wherever he went.

In a private suite within the hospital, Veer Malhotra sat beside his mother’s bed, his fingers lazily flipping through the pages of a financial magazine. His presence alone commanded attention—a tall figure in an impeccable three-piece suit, his chiseled jaw set in a firm line, and his dark, stormy eyes unreadable.

He wasn’t a man who expressed emotions easily, but when it came to his mother, he was unwaveringly protective.

“How are you feeling today, Maa?” he asked in a voice that was softer than usual.

“I’m fine, Veer,” she smiled warmly, though the slight weakness in her voice didn’t go unnoticed by him.

Before he could say anything, the door to the suite suddenly creaked open, and a nurse stepped inside. “Sir, Dr. Naina Sharma has arrived to take over your mother’s case.”

Veer barely looked up. Another doctor, another face. None of them had ever truly impressed him. But as the footsteps approached, something unusual happened.

He felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Naina entered the room, her doctor’s coat neatly pressed, her stethoscope resting around her neck. But the moment her eyes met Veer’s, she froze.

It was him.

The man she had collided with in the hallway earlier.

___Flashback___

Just an hour ago, in her rush to get to the VIP wing, Naina had turned a corner too quickly and crashed straight into a solid chest. A storng hand had gripped her wrist before she could stumble. Looking up, she had been met with the most intense pair of eyes she had ever seen.

“Heyyy watch it..” the man had said, his voice a smooth, deep warning.

“I—I’m sorry,” she had stammered, stepping back. His gaze had flickered over her face for just a second before he had walked past her, as if she were nothing but a momentary inconvenience.

Naina turns and watches him with and "O" face as he didn't care to help her with the file scattered because of collision. " Huhhh.. Grumpy.."

She gathers and organizes the file made her way .

___Flashback ends___

But now, standing before him again, realization struck both of them like a lightning bolt.

“You?” Veer’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, recognition flashing across his features.

Naina swallowed hard, trying to keep her professional demeanor intact. “I’m Dr. Naina Sharma, sir. I’ll be handling your mother’s treatment.”

A long pause stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. Veer’s gaze darkened, and Naina felt an inexplicable tension settle in the air.

Her first day had just become a lot more complicated.

~*~

What’s your first impression of Veer and Naina?

Which trope are you most excited for?

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments! I love reading them! 📖❤️